Fast pyrolysis of biomass

The development of viable fast pyrolysis processes for biomass and other carbonaceous feedstocks will offer significant advantages over conventional pyrolysis, flash pyrolysis and gasification processes with respect to product yield quality and flexibility. Fast pyrolysis is defined and related to other biomass thermochemical conversion processes in some detail. Brief references are made to corresponding coal, hydrocarbon and oil conversion research and development. Proposed mechanisms and chemical pathways are reviewed, potential products. product upgrading and product applications are identified. Fast pyrolysis research is reviewed on both the fundamental bench-scale level and the applied process development level.