There has been a major breakthrough in biofuel production, as scientists discover a way to turn waste products such as paper, forest thinning, crop residues and garden waste into ‘biocrude’ oil.

Senior CSIRO Research Scientist, Dr Steven Loffler and his team at Monash University developed this process after 18 months in a laboratory, but are planning to build a demonstration plant within two years. ‘ We’re taking waste material, things that might otherwise go to landfill or be incinerated,’ explained Dr Loffler. ‘ We’re turning it into an oil that is, I guess, analogous to crude oil.’

Before this world breakthrough, biofuel production was predominantly derived from plant crops like sugar and corn. The team says biocrude has the potential to replace conventional methods and even be used for transport fuels. ‘Until now it has been uneconomic to use green waste materials, such as forest thinning and straw, to make biofuels and environmentally friendly chemicals because of the high cost of trucking the bulky waste many hundreds of kilometres for processing.’

Dr Loffler explains that it was by making changes in the chemical process that they were able to develop a concentrated biocrude that is more stable then any other attempts worldwide. Until now, biocrude made from waste quickly broke down and became useless. ‘There have been plenty of attempts around the world to do this, but the bio-oil has been unstable and turns into bitumen in just weeks.’

Biofuel production is still very small in Australia, accounting for less than 0.5 per cent of transport fuel consumption. Using the process developed by the CSIRO and Monash University, bio-crude could be made on-site at timber mills then trucked or piped to a refinery and be promptly turned into a petrol substitute. If successfully commercialised, the process could massively reduce the amount of waste going into landfills and help the biofuels industry steer clear of the controversial greenhouse gas debate.

‘One of the big issues with making biofuel is that to move bio-materials around tends to be expensive, it also produces a lot of greenhouse gases,’ says Dr Loffler. ‘There’s obviously a lot of work,’ he admits. ‘ And to actually have what looks like a considerable breakthrough is a very significant feeling.’

WORDS: Emma Bisland