Bio-oil & Fine chemicals
Bio-oils are a by-product of the initial pyrolysis process and are removed from the reactor in a gaseous state before being condensed. Bio-oils assume the form of a viscous dark brown liquid akin to crude oil. However, bio-oils are not considered as pure hydrocarbons due to higher oxygen levels thus making it distinctly different from similar petroleum products.
Carbonscape’s bio-oils and fine chemicals are targeted towards end uses such as heating, high grade pharmaceutical products and cosmetics. Bio-oil heating is worth in excess of US$500m in the US and Europe. The end uses for pharmaceutical products and cosmetics have a combined market value in excess of US$900m in the US and Europe. The value of bio-oil as an alternative fuel is currently worth in excess of US$1.4bn in the US and European markets combined.
Bio-oil is ash free and has an existing positive market value due to its relative ease of use in existing natural gas and diesel fuelled boilers with only small adjustments required in the turbines to generate electricity. Other advantages in the use of bio-oils are:
- Reduction in emissions of CO2 and SO2
- Reduced emissions of Chlorite and Sulphur
- Immediate applications in heating installations
- Competitive pricing compared to natural gas and diesel
- Ease of storage and transportation
- Ability to combine use of bio-oil and mineral oil
Furthermore, bio-jet fuels are currently used on a demonstration basis by airlines. These originate from a biomass feedstock that includes algae and plants such as Jatropha and Camelina. The potential certification for airplanes to fly on 100% biomass-to-liquid bio-jet fuel could be issued in the near future highlighting another potential market for the product.