Aussie tech helps make bio-oils for greener industrial applications

Aussie tech helps make bio-oils for greener industrial applications

Australian technology developed at RMIT University could enable more sustainable and cheaper production of bio-oils to replace petroleum-based products in electronic, construction and automotive applications.

The technology, known as PYROCOTM, uses high temperatures without oxygen to convert treated sewage (biosolids) into a carbon-rich product called biochar, which can act as a catalyst to produce phenol-rich bio-oil.

PYROCOTM has been developed by RMIT in collaboration with South East Water, Intelligent Water Networks and other water authorities over several years and is now being applied to several exciting circular economy applications.

The RMIT team's latest research in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Petroleum, published in Renewable Energy, highlights that biochar derived from biosolids can effectively replace the expensive catalysts currently used to extract oil from biomass such as Willow Peppermint, a plant native to Australia.

This discovery shows that biochar from biosolids, produced using advanced pyrolysis technology such as PYROCOTM, offers a sustainable way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by replacing high-emission products.

The use of biochar made from biosolids as a catalyst could underpin a sustainable supply chain for bio-oils rich in phenol that are essential for making valuable chemicals such as resins, lubricants and additives used in various industries.

The researchers produced bio-oil with high levels of phenolics (69%) and hydrocarbons (14%) during their experiments, showing their biochar to be an effective catalyst. 

Two women and one man in a lab - the middle person is holding a vile of brown liquid.(L-R) Dr Nimesha Rathnayake, Dr Ramandeep Kaur and Professor Kalpit Shah were the lead researchers on the bio-oil project. Credit: Will Wright, RMIT University

Scaling up

RMIT’s Professor Kalpit Shah, Deputy Director (Research) of the ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia’s Biosolids Resource, said PYROCOTM was close to commercial-ready scale.

RMIT and partners Aqua Metro, South East Water and its commercial arm Iota have secured $3 million from the Australian Government to build a commercial-scale demonstration plant (Mark-3) at one of the water recycling plants at South East Water next year.

“Our upcoming project aligns with the Global Waste Management Policy and Australia’s National Waste Policy Action Plan. Our goal is to prevent PFAS-contaminated biosolids from being disposed of in landfill by converting them into PFAS-free biochar, for its diverse applications,” Shah said.

“According to an International Biochar Initiative report, biochar will have a global market potential of $3.3 billion by next year, showcasing a truly circular solution.”

The project aligns with stricter PFAS regulations introduced in the recent PFAS National Environment Management Plan 3.0 (NEMP 3.0).

South East Water is contributing $3 million in funding and collaborating with other partners to drive this innovative $11 million project that supports a sustainable future.

Seven men wearing hard hats and hi-vis clothing at a water recycling facility. (L-R) Dr Ganesh Veluswamy (RMIT researcher), Ross Weston (Engineering Manager, South East Water), Dr Aravind Surapaneni (Principal Scientist, SEW), Eamon Casey (Technical Director, Iota), Profesor Kalpit Shah (Project Lead, RMIT), Dr Ibrahim Hakeem (RMIT researcher) and Dr Savankumar Patel (RMIT researcher) in front of the PYROCO technology. Credit: supplied

Tried and tested technology

RMIT has filed patent applications to protect the technology that researchers have developed in collaboration with South East Water, Intelligent Water Networks and Greater Western Water.

RMIT has selected Iota as the commercialisation partner for PYROCOTM.

The latest trials of the technology (Mark-2) at the Melton Recycled Water Plant pave the way for large-scale deployment, following on from two earlier successful trials that included the removal of pathogens, PFAS and microplastics from biosolids.

“The Mark-2 unit recently processed biosolids from five different water utilities across Australia to create biochar. Three more biosolid feedstocks will be processed in the next few months.” Shah said.    

South East Water Managing Director, Lara Olsen, said the latest PYROCOTM trials and upcoming demonstration project represented significant progress for the water sector in terms of environmental sustainability and innovation.

“We’re tackling a national challenge by harnessing cutting-edge technology with the potential to destroy 99.99% of PFAS in biosolids,” Olsen said.

“The PYROCOTM project reflects our vision of innovating with purpose to protect our environment for future generations.” 

Feedstock from a waste stream is in the left blue gloved hand and a carbon-rich product called biochar is in the other blue gloved hand.The technology, known as PYROCO, uses high temperatures without oxygen to convert treated sewage (biosolids) into a carbon-rich product called biochar, which can act as a catalyst to produce phenol-rich bio-oil. Credit: Seamus Daniel

Aqua Metro Chief Executive Officer, Manish Pancholi, said the organisation was proud to be leading the way in PYROCO technology.

“Aqua Metro is excited and proud to have been awarded this Cooperative Research Centre Project (CRC-P) grant, leading the commercialisation of PYROCO technology along with our RMIT, South East Water, Iota and other partners.”

“We see a unique opportunity for this technology to provide significant decarbonisation, environmental and circular-economy benefits to the water industry and potentially other industries and are looking forward to proving the PYROCO technology at scale,” Pancholi said.

The latest RMIT study was conducted in collaboration with Dr Thallada Bhaskar's research group at the Council for Scientific and industrial Research – Indian Institute of Petroleum.

‘Role of carbo-catalyst on upgrading the pyrolysis vapors of spent Eucalyptus nicholii biomass: Towards sustainable phenolics production’ is published in Renewable Energy (DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.122468).


Story: Will Wright

10 April 2025

Share

Return to RMIT News
10 April 2025

Share

  • STEM
  • Industry
  • Society
  • Sustainability
  • Research
  • Engineering
  • Regenerative Futures
  • Environment
  • Science and technology
Engage

Related News

athena-swan-silver-award-image3-1220x732.jpg

RMIT achieves prestigious Athena Swan Silver Award for gender equity

RMIT has become one of only five universities in Australia to gain the prestigious Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Athena Swan Silver Award, placing it among the national leaders in advancing gender equity and inclusion in higher education.

asia-intelligence-challenge-2.jpg

Building the capability of leaders working in Asia

A simulated challenge that helps to build the capability of leaders working in Asia has been held at RMIT Vietnam for the first time.

news-magnetic-microplastics-innovation-1220px.jpg

Magnetic invention removes ‘invisible’ microplastics plus some PFAS

RMIT University researchers have developed a water treatment material that rapidly removes micro and nano plastics and some PFAS, bringing the technology closer to real world use.

rmit-ciemat-workshop.jpg

RMIT and CIEMAT advance collaboration on the future of renewable energy infrastructure

As Spain and Australia accelerate their transition to net-zero economies, researchers, industry leaders and government representatives gathered in Madrid to explore how stronger international collaboration can help solve the next generation of clean energy challenges.

Show more
aboriginal flag float-starttorres strait flag float-start

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information