An Overview of the Properties and Applications of Biomass Pyrolysis Oils

The aim of this article is to discuss the properties of pyrolysis liquid products and their primary applications. The pyrolysis of biomass is a promising route for the production of solid (charcoal), liquid (tar and other organics), and gaseous products. These products are of interest as they are possible alternate sources of fuels and chemicals. Pyrolysis liquid is referred to in the literature by terms, such as pyrolysis oil, bio-oil, bio-crude oil, bio-fuel oil, wood liquid, wood oil, liquid smoke, wood distillates, pyroligneous tar, and pyroligneous acid. Bio-oil from biomass pyrolysis mainly consisted of aromatic, aliphatic, and naphthenic hydrocarbons and oxygenated compounds, such as phenols, furans, alcohols, acids, ethers, aldehydes, and ketones. Bio-oil has a higher energy density than biomass, can be readily stored and transported, and can be used either as a renewable liquid fuel or chemical production.