Our Technology

Any Biomass Utilised

Using its proprietary supercritical water technology, Licella can use essentially any form of biomass feedstock to produce a stable Bio-Crude oil. At Licella's Pilot Plant sawdust and energy crops have been processed, but in principle, any ligno-cellulosic biomass can be used.

Supercritical Water Technology

Under intense heat and pressure water approaches a fourth state of matter, called the supercritical state. When water approaches this state it exhibits increased acidic and basic properties with diffusion properties similar to gases and the ability to dissolve non-polar liquids like oil.

Licella’s process centres on using supercritical water technology to break down pulverised biomass. Licella's technology breaks down carbon-oxygen linkages in the polymeric structure of biomass to liquefy it. Additional steps are catalysed subsequently to remove oxygen and stabilise the oil.