Maximizing carbon-rich product yield from bioresources via an innovative two-stage pyrolysis

Purpose and goal:

Forest residues and biomass face efficiency challenges as heat sources, hindering high-value applications. The two-stage pyrolysis (2StagePyro) addresses this by converting bioresources into biocarbon, bio-products, and clean syngas. Proof-of-concept showed significant carbon efficiency increases and less post-treatment effort, making it economically feasible for sustainable industrialization.

This project aims to develop a commercial 2StagePyro process, facilitating biobased-material production and unlocking the fossil-free industry in Sweden. Expected results and effects:

The outcomes of this project are expected to revolutionize biocarbon production, making it price-competitive with metallurgical coal and coke. Valorizing carbon-rich products from 2StagePyro will open diverse market opportunities, shifting bioresource utilization, and extending biogenic carbon cycles within the circular bioeconomy. The efficient use of alternative biogenic feedstocks will be highlighted, deprioritizing the use of bioresources for short circulation-time applications such as low-value heat production.

Approach and implementation:

Our collaborative platform involves research institutes (LTU and Swerim), a bioresource provider (Stena Recycling), a bio-material producer (Envigas), and a bio-material user (Outokumpu). The project contains 6 work packages; WP1 project management, WP2 Optimization of two-stage pyrolysis technique, WP3 Upgrading and utilization of bio-oil, WP4 Upgrading and utilization of pyrolysis gas, WP5 pilot-scale tests, and WP6 conceptual process design.

This includes experimental investigation, value-chain analysis, engineering, LCA, and economic evaluation.