The commercialization of biomass-derived pyrolysis liquids for use in heat and power applications is dependent on the ability to successfully provide a fuel of acceptable quality to an end user at a competitive price. One of the intentions of the European Union (EU) Altener 4.1030/C/00-015/2000 project was to derive standards for biomass-derived pyrolysis liquids, based on a consensus between providers of the equipment (boilers, engines, and turbines) and the producers of the liquids. Five basic properties (homogeneity, water content, solids content, stability, flash point) for the liquids are used as the primary criteria for pyrolysis liquid evaluation. Specific values are proposed to ensure that pyrolysis liquids meet a minimum grade that is acceptable for use as a fuel oil in boilers and engines. Data on emissions from boilers, engines and turbines are presented. Preliminary long-duration test data from boiler use are available to allow more-detailed specifications on secondary properties to be made. The purpose of this work is to ensure that a realistic set of specifications is determined, to allow the introduction of pyrolysis liquids into existing fuel infrastructures and markets.

An alternative sustainable fuel, biomass-derived fast pyrolysis oil or “bio-oil”, is coming into the market in Europe. Fast pyrolysis pilot and demonstration plants for fuel applications producing tonnes of bio-oil are in operation, and commercial plants are under design. There will be increasingly larger amounts of bio-oil transportation on water and by land, leading to a need for further specifications and supporting documentation. The properties of bio-oil are different from conventional liquid fuels and, therefore, may need to overcome both technical and marketing hurdles for its acceptability in the fuels market. Multiple material safety data sheets (MSDSs) are currently being used by different producers, but there is a desire to update these as more information becomes available. In order to standardize bio-oil, quality specifications are being adopted. The first bio-oil burner fuel standard in ASTM D7544 was approved in 2010. CEN standardization has been initiated in Europe. In the EU, a new chemical regulation system REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) exists. Registration under REACH has to be perfomed if bio-oil is produced or imported into the EU. In the USA and Canada, bio-oil has to be filed under the TSCA (US Toxic Substances Control Act) and DSL (Domestic Substance List), respectively. In this paper, the state of the art on standardization is discussed, and new data for the transportation guidelines is presented. The focus is on flammability and toxicity.