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Elsevier

Production of Bio-Oil and Biocrude from Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass

Upgrading and Utilization

  • 1st Edition - April 11, 2026
  • Latest edition
  • Editors: Yulin Hu, Sophia He, Kang Kang
  • Language: English

Production of Bio-Oil and Biocrude from Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass: Upgrading and Utilization presents recent developments in the thermochemical conversion of biomas… Read more

Description

Production of Bio-Oil and Biocrude from Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass: Upgrading and Utilization presents recent developments in the thermochemical conversion of biomass for bio-oil and biocrude production, including both dry and wet processes, and advancements in catalyst selection and design for bio-oil and biocrude upgrading. The book begins with an introduction to the background, motivation, and objectives of bio-oil and biocrude production. Subsequent chapters cover biomass sources and availability, fundamentals of thermochemical conversion, and biomass pretreatment techniques. The book explains various processes, including fast pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction for bio-oil and biocrude production, discussing technological advancements, challenges, and future perspectives.

It also addresses fuel properties tuning, catalytic hydrotreatment for bio-oil and biocrude upgrading and potential applications that are highlighted in global case studies with successful bio-oil and biocrude implementations. Addressing the critical need to develop renewable and sustainable resources like biomass and organic waste, the book integrates bioeconomy and biorefinery concepts to provide the latest technological advancements, practical applications, and real-world case studies, helping readers bridge the gap between academic research and industrial development in bio-oil and biocrude production, upgrading, and utilization.

Key features

  • Covers the fundamentals of thermochemical conversion, biomass pretreatment techniques, fast pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, and fuel properties tuning, offering a detailed examination of each process
  • Emphasizes practical applications of bio-oil and biocrude for biofuel, heat, and power generation
  • Provides global case studies that highlight successful bio-oil implementations in different regions
  • Discusses the economic feasibility, environmental impacts, and sustainability of bio-oil and biocrude production and utilization, including lifecycle assessments and their integration into existing energy systems

Readership

Students, researchers, and professionals involved in biomass conversion and the production of liquid biofuels

Table of contents

1. Introduction

2. Biomass sources and availability for bio-oil and biocrude production

3. Fundamentals of thermochemical conversion of biomass

4. Biomass pretreatment techniques

5. Fast pyrolysis for bio-oil production: technological advancements and challenges

6. Hydrothermal liquefaction for biocrude production: technological advancements and challenges

7. Fuel properties of bio-oil and biocrude

8. Bio-oil and biocrude upgrading: catalytic hydrotreatment and potential applications

9. Life cycle assessment and economic analysis of bio-oil and biocrude production, upgrading, and utilization

10. Practical applications of bio-oil and biocrude technology: global case studies and future prospects

11. Conclusions and outlook

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Published: April 16, 2026
  • Language: English

About the editors

YH

Yulin Hu

Prof. Yulin Hu is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering at the University of Prince Edward Island. Prof. Hu has extensive research experience in thermochemical conversion of biomass and value-added bioproducts. Prof. Hu has an educational background includes Bioresources Engineering from McGill University and Chemical Engineering from Western University, specializing in biomass valorization, biofuels, and biomaterials. She then conducted postdoctoral research on syngas and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and gained industrial experience in electronic waste recycling through pyrolysis. Till now, she has accumulated over 10 years of research experience in biomass valorization, biofuels, and biocarbon materials. Currently, at UPEI, she is leading a Sustainable Bioproducts Lab and supervising/co-supervising 5 graduate students. Her current research areas include synthesis of engineered biocarbon materials for environmental remediation and fuel application and fundamental studies of kinetics and heat transfer of biomass pyrolysis for bio-oil production. Her commitment to advancing knowledge in clean technology and Renewable Energy is evident through 53 authored/co-authored peer-reviewed publications and 7 book chapters. As a Principal Investigator (PI), she has secured over 88oK in research grants since 2021. She has successfully obtained prestigious and competitive federal and provincial grants, like Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery, NSERC Research Tools and Instruments (RTI), and Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders (JELF).

Affiliations and expertise
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada

SH

Sophia He

Prof. Quan Sophia He is a Full Professor in the Department of Engineering at Dalhousie University. She has extensive knowledge and experience in thermochemical conversion, biological conversion, and chemical conversion of biomass, biofuels development, and nano-catalyst development and application. Prof. He is a seasoned chemical engineer with more than 20 years’ experience in process development, optimization, and scale-up, with a specialization in the thermochemical conversion of biomass and the application of value-added bioproducts. Throughout her tenure, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership and mentorship, having supervised/co-supervised 11 PhDs, 17 MScs, 13 PDFs and Research Associate, and 24 Co-op and summer students. Since joining Dalhousie University in 2013, Dr. He has successfully secured research funding totaling 9.6M, like NSERC Discovery, Alliance, and CFI.

Affiliations and expertise
Full Professor, Department of Engineering, Dalhousie University, Canada

KK

Kang Kang

Prof. Kang Kang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Lakehead University and Research Chair in Biorefining Research Institute. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada (2017). Prior to joining the NSERC Industrial Research Chair team at ICFAR for Post-doctoral Research, Dr. Kang worked three years as an Assistant Professor at Northwest A&F University in China. Dr. Kang’s research expertise lies in bioresources recovery, renewable energy, and water decontamination. The long-term objectives of Dr. Kang’s research are to enhance Canada’s waste management and sustainable development strategies by promoting community energy access while contributing to a healthy environment. So far, Dr. Kang has 57 papers published in high-quality academic journals, including Waste Management, Environmental Research, Journal of Cleaner Production, Energy Conversion and Management, and Chemical Engineering Journal, etc. Besides the effort to acquire fundamental knowledge, his research also has a solid bond to industrial applications. Many of his projects were completed in close collaboration with government agencies and industrial partners, examples including Mitacs, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada, and Char Technologies.
Affiliations and expertise
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Lakehead University; Research Chair, Biorefining Research Institute, Canada

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