Thermochemical conversion process

A thermochemical conversion process is one of several methods of converting biomass to biofuels. 

Perhaps the best known thermochemical conversion process is the Fischer–Tropsch process.  It is a catalyzed chemical reaction in which synthesis gas, which is a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, is converted into liquid hydrocarbons. The most common catalysts are based on iron and cobalt, although nickel and ruthenium have also been used.  Synthesis gas is also known as syngas.

This process produces a synthetic petroleum substitute, typically from coal or natural gas.  For biofuels production using thermochemical conversion technologies, biomass is the feedstock that is used as the hydrocarbon that is turned into a synthetic fuel.

This synthetic fuel can be an analogue for gasoline, diesel or jet fuel. Synthetic diesel made by this process is often referred to as FT diesel.