Thermochemical Conversion

The Biomass Program conducts research on heat and pressure-based conversion of various biomass feedstocks to alcohol and hydrocarbon fuels, chemicals, and power. These conversion processes, including gasification and pyrolysis, are described in detail in the links on the left.

Thermochemical conversion is effectively applied to any biomass feedstock.
Thermochemical processes also complement biochemical work by converting lignin-rich non-fermentable material left over from high-starch feedstocks conversion.
Thermochemical conversion will enhance fuel yields in integrated biorefineries by combining conversion types with heat and power efficiencies to produce fuel and products.

The Thermochemical Platform aims to efficiently produce biobased fuels and co-products via gasification and pyrolysis (for more information, view the thermochemical processes page). The platform aligns its R&D with the Program's goals, which include using stand-alone thermochemical conversion and integrating efficient, complementary thermochemical conversion technology into a model biorefinery.

Feedstocks for thermochemical processes include a wide variety of biomass types with little to no restrictions on physical or chemical properties. Moisture and particle size are specified for the respective conversion processes.

For more information on thermochemical conversion, see the Using Heat and Chemistry to Make Fuels and Power: Thermochemical Conversion.