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Biomass pyrolysis liquefaction is a thermo chemical process that converts biomass into a liquid product: bio-oil. This paper reviews the new development of biomass pyrolysis liquefaction technologies since 1980s. Several pyrolysis processes and technologies are introduced in details. These technologies include Waterloo Fast Pyrolysis Process (Canada), Vacuum Pyrolysis, DynaMotive Pyrolysis System, Vortex Ablative Pyrolysis, Entrained Flow Pyrolysis, Rotating Cone Reactor and Hot Ceramic Ball Heated Down-flow Tuber Reactor developed by us (in China).

Problems associated with the collection and pretreatment of agricultural biomass residues, including material drying and the relationship between the cost and the collection radius, are discussed.

Recent studies on the fundamental of agricultural residues pyrolysis carried out by our group, such as plasma jet flow entrained flow pyrolysis, chemical analysis of biooil and the devolatilization characteristics of biomass particles at flash heating rate are also introduced briefly.