Biomass-to-Liquid (BTL)

Biomass-to-liquid (BTL) is a synthetic paraffinic fuel made by gasifying biomass to syngas (CO and H2), then converting that syngas to liquid hydrocarbons by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The product is a clean, sulfur-free, aromatic-free paraffinic diesel or kerosene that drops into existing engines and meets EN 15940. Because the carbon originates in recently grown biomass, well-to-wake CO2 is low when the feedstock and process power are sustainable. BTL is one of three Fischer-Tropsch routes distinguished by feedstock: gas-to-liquid (GTL) from natural gas, coal-to-liquid (CTL) from coal, and BTL from biomass. Scale-up is limited by feedstock logistics and gasifier capital cost.