Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Pyrolysis Pathways

Pyrolysis of biomass to produce liquid fuels can play a significant role toward achieving the goal of 36 billion gallons per year of biofuels by 2022 as set by the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007. Argonne National Laboratory conducted life cycle analysis of various pyrolysis pathways by expanding and employing the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation Model (GREET). The fuel cycle energy use and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from the pyrolysis pathways were compared to the baseline gasoline pathway as well as alternative biofuel pathways such as corn and cellulosic ethanol, cellulosic biomass to Fischer Tropsch Diesel (FTD), and soybean biodiesel, renewable diesel and renewable gasoline. The life cycle results are significantly impacted by the source of hydrogen production for hydrotreatment and hydrocracking processes, and the handling of the biochar and other coproducts of the pyrolysis pathway.