American researchers from the University of Georgia have developed a thermo-chemical process for the conversion of pine wood chips into bio-oil, which could be used as a “biodiesel extender” or a “biodiesel substitute”.  They also studied the fuel properties of bio-oil/biodiesel blends. The process essentially involves the slow pyrolysis (heating in the absence of oxygen) of pine wood chips/pellets to produce the bio-oil.  Their findings are published in the journal, “Energy Fuels”, published by the American Chemical Society (ACS) (URL above)..