Biomass to liquid (BtL or BMtL) is a multi-step process of producing synthetic hydrocarbon fuels made from biomass via a thermochemical route. Main processes According to a study done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy, the United States can produce at least 1.3 billion tons of cellulosic biomass each year without decreasing the amount of biomass needed for our food, animal feed, or exports. Fischer–Tropsch process The Fischer–Tropsch process is used to produce synfuels from gasified biomass. Carbonaceous material is gasified and the gas is processed to make purified syngas (a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen). The Fischer–Tropsch polymerizes syngas into diesel-range hydrocarbons. While biodiesel and bio-ethanol production so far only use parts of a plant, i.e. oil, sugar, starch or cellulose, BtL production can gasify and utilize the entire plant. Flash pyrolysis Flash pyrolysis—producing bio-oil (pyrolysis oil), char and gas at temperatures between 350–550 °C and residence times < 1 second (also called anhydrous pyrolysis). Catalytic fast pyrolysis Catalytic fast pyrolysis is a fast process in which the cellulose is broken down to a liquid biofuel. In this approach the cellulose is heated to 500 degrees Celsius in less than one second in a chamber to break apart the molecules. The catalyst forms chemical reactions that remove oxygen bonds and form carbon rings. After the reaction takes place gasoline is formed along with water, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. Pyrolysis and gasification Initially biomass undergoes pyrolysis process to produce pyrolysis gases and biochar. The volatile organic compounds in pyrolysis gases further undergo gasification process to produce syngas rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide gases which is further converted in to methanol (CH3OH). The carbon neutral biochar is further converted in to ethylene or ethanol with hydrogen generated from renewable electricity or used for carbon sequestration to reduce global warming CO2 gas in the atmosphere. AFEX treatment In the Ammonia Fiber Expansion / Explosion (AFEX) pre-treat process, hot concentrated 15 M ammonia is used to break down sugar molecules, cellulose and hemicellulose significantly more efficiently than enzymes. The result is minor biomass degradation with high yields. AFEX is generally done in one step, making it more efficient than other processes. Catalytic depolymerization Catalytic depolymerization is the use of heat and catalysts to separate usable diesel fuel from hydrocarbon wastes. Regional Biomass Processing Center Regional Biomass Processing Center is a conceptual place where the AFEX