The Valencian Community is making strides in waste valorization with a pioneering initiative that converts plant biomass, such as pruning remains and scrub, into high-value fuels. This project, named Pyrofuel, not only seeks to utilize resources previously considered waste but also to significantly reduce the risk of forest fires in the Valencian mountains.
The Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ), a joint center of the CSIC and the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), is a key player in this research. Their work focuses on developing new catalysts that accelerate and optimize the chemical reactions necessary for producing high-quality fuels from biomass.
The project, funded with over 1.5 million euros, aims to reduce the risk of fires, prevent biomass waste, and improve energy efficiency by 30%.
The technology employed is thermal pyrolysis, a process that decomposes waste at temperatures between 400 and 600 degrees without oxygen. This technique generates bio-liquids that are subsequently refined to obtain fuels similar to kerosene or diesel, suitable for aviation and ground transport. Furthermore, it is estimated that this system can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 17%, contributing to environmental sustainability.
The Pyrofuel project is led by the company Meryt Catalysts & Innovation and collaborates with other entities such as I2con and Neoliquid. This cooperation between research and industry is fundamental to promoting a sustainable bioeconomy and improving the logistics of biomass collection and transport, ensuring optimal utilization of available resources in the Valencian territory.
