Both biomass-derived syngas (CO and H2) and SNG can be integrated into conventional existing petrochemical refinery complexes to produce both transportation fuels and chemicals from biomass. Also biochemically produced ethanol, butanol and hydrogen potentially can be used in the same existing refinery infrastructure to produce a variety of bio-based chemicals and materials.

An interesting technology for the production of the energy dense biomass — derived intermediate bio-oil is fast pyrolysis (thermal degradation in the absence of oxygen). Currently, a lot of effort is being put into the (catalytic) hydrogenation of this material to make it suitable to produce biomass-derived fuel additives. Another development is the development of catalytic fast pyrolysis processes for the production of bio-based chemicals.

The synergistic combination of aquathermolysis (hot pressurised water treatment) and fast pyrolysis is a promising thermolysis option integrating fractionation of biomass with the production of valuable chemicals (de Wild et al, 2009). Aquathermolysis causes hemicellulose to degrade and disappear from the raw materials. Lignin ether bonds are broken, but the lignin is hardly affected. Cellulose is also retained and seems to become more crystalline (see Fig. 21.6).