Request for Information: Carbon, Hydrogen and Separation Efficiencies in Bio-Oil Conversion Pathways

November 26, 2012

The Energy Department (DOE) has issued a request for information (RFI) to garner input from researchers in industry, academia, and other interested biofuels stakeholders to identify key technical barriers in converting biomass via thermochemical direct liquefaction pathways to transportation fuels in the gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel ranges. For the purpose of this RFI, thermochemical direct liquefaction pathways include fast pyrolysis, in-situ and ex-situ catalytic pyrolysis, hydropyrolysis, hydrothermal (or solvent) liquefaction, followed by various combinations of bio-oil stabilization and upgrading processes. At a recent stakeholder workshop (“Conversion Technologies for Advanced Biofuels”) hosted by DOE’s Biomass Program, several technology deficiencies were identified that were applicable to all of these pathways, in particular:

Developing selective fractionation and separation systems in bio-oil processing
Improving hydrogen production, use, and transfer in biomass liquefaction and bio-oil upgrading
Developing technologies for use and mitigation of the aqueous fraction of bio-oil.

DOE seeks information regarding the significance of these technical barriers and the resources required to address these technology deficiencies. The information provided may be used by the Biomass Program in support of Program planning. For more information, view the full RFI (DE-FOA-0000796) in the EERE Exchange website.

All responses to this RFI must be delivered electronically in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or PDF format as an attachment to an email sent to the Chase RFI email address no later than 8:00 p.m. ET on December 5, 2012. Emails should have the subject line “RFI Response for CHASE Bio-oil Pathways.”