Quality control in fast pyrolysis bio-oil production and use

Introducing a new fuel, fast pyrolysis bio-oil, into the market is not without its challenges. Fast pyrolysis bio-oil is different from conventional liquid fuels, and therefore must overcome both technical and marketing hurdles. To standardize the bio-oil quality on the market, specifications are needed and in order to promote its acceptance as a fuel, the methodology should be as similar to that for mineral oils as possible. In the EU a new chemical regulation system is being implemented. The regulation applies to substances manufactured in or imported to the EU in annual quantities of one tonne or more per company.

This article will focus on norms and standards for fast pyrolysis bio-oils. It will include the present status and address what still has to be done on bio-oil specifications and relevant test methods. The article will address industrial needs in commercialization of the fuel oil use of bio-oil, including the registration application to the REACH program, as well as development of a standard within ASTM. The article will discuss the most important properties of bio-oil and the variation in these properties. It will address the issue of quality follow-up in bio-oil production, including the properties to be followed and the laboratory and on-line monitoring methods. The article will provide a state of the art of fuel oil specifications, test methods, and testing procedures as they are applied to bio-oil. It will review the effort in support of the implementation of an ASTM standard including the methods validation work.