German Group Makes Synthetic Fuel from Waste Residues

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), a leading energy research center in Germany working with a number of industry partners, has produced engine-compatible synthetic fuel from waste straw for the first time using its proprietary bioliq (biomass to liquid) technology.

The bioliq technology consists of a thermo-chemical process involving several steps that convert waste biomass, mainly straw and wood, into fuel and chemicals. The process allows the conversion of waste residues into energy-rich intermediate product similar to crude oil at decentralized facilities, eliminating the need to transport high volume of waste to a central processing facility. The crude intermediate is transported to a centralized refining plant where it is converted to gas under extreme temperature and pressure. After the impurities in the synthetic gas have been removed, the gas becomes a high quality fuel in the final synthesis stage.

The synthesis stage of the bioliq process has been demonstrated recently in a pilot plant, making a significant milestone in the production of environmentally compatible fuels from residual biomass. The project will now link all stages of the entire bioliq process chain and optimize them for industrial scale production. The pilot plant will supply high-quality engine-compatible fuel from waste straw as soon as this project has been completed in mid-2014.