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Title: Conceptual process design and economics for the production of high-octane gasoline blendstock via indirect liquefaction of biomass through methanol/dimethyl ether intermediates

Abstract

This paper describes in detail one potential conversion process for the production of highoctane gasoline blendstock via indirect liquefaction of biomass. The processing steps of this pathway include the conversion of biomass to synthesis gas via indirect gasifi cation, gas clean-up via reforming of tars and other hydrocarbons, catalytic conversion of syngas to methanol, methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether (DME), and the homologation of DME over a zeolite catalyst to high-octane gasoline range hydrocarbon products. The current process confi guration has similarities to conventional methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) technologies, but there are key distinctions, specifi cally regarding the product slate, catalysts, and reactor conditions. A techno-economic analysis is performed to investigate the production of high-octane gasoline blendstock. The design features a processing daily capacity of 2000 tonnes (2205 short tons) of dry biomass. The process yields 271 liters of liquid fuel per dry tonne of biomass (65 gal/dry ton), for an annual fuel production rate of 178 million liters (47 MM gal) at 90% on-stream time. The estimated total capital investment for an nth-plant is $438 million. The resulting minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) is $0.86 per liter or $3.25 per gallon in 2011 US dollars. A rigorous sensitivity analysis captures uncertaintiesmore » in costs and plant performance. Sustainability metrics for the conversion process are quantifi ed and assessed. The potential premium value of the high-octane gasoline blendstock is examined and found to be at least as competitive as fossil-derived blendstocks.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [1]
  1. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
  2. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  3. DWH Process Consulting LLC, Centennial, CO (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office
OSTI Identifier:
1236955
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1243215
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5100-65305; PNNL-SA-113776
Journal ID: ISSN 1932-104X
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308; AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 10; Journal Issue: 1; Related Information: Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining; Journal ID: ISSN 1932-104X
Publisher:
Wiley
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
09 BIOMASS FUELS; biomass; thermochemical conversion; indirect gasification; dimethyl ether homologation; high-octane gasoline; process design; techno-economic analysis; sustainability

Citation Formats

Tan, Eric C. D., Talmadge, Michael, Dutta, Abhijit, Hensley, Jesse, Snowden-Swan, Lesley J., Humbird, David, Schaidle, Joshua, and Biddy, Mary. Conceptual process design and economics for the production of high-octane gasoline blendstock via indirect liquefaction of biomass through methanol/dimethyl ether intermediates. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1002/bbb.1611.
Tan, Eric C. D., Talmadge, Michael, Dutta, Abhijit, Hensley, Jesse, Snowden-Swan, Lesley J., Humbird, David, Schaidle, Joshua, & Biddy, Mary. Conceptual process design and economics for the production of high-octane gasoline blendstock via indirect liquefaction of biomass through methanol/dimethyl ether intermediates. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.1611
Tan, Eric C. D., Talmadge, Michael, Dutta, Abhijit, Hensley, Jesse, Snowden-Swan, Lesley J., Humbird, David, Schaidle, Joshua, and Biddy, Mary. 2015. "Conceptual process design and economics for the production of high-octane gasoline blendstock via indirect liquefaction of biomass through methanol/dimethyl ether intermediates". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.1611. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1236955.
@article{osti_1236955,
title = {Conceptual process design and economics for the production of high-octane gasoline blendstock via indirect liquefaction of biomass through methanol/dimethyl ether intermediates},
author = {Tan, Eric C. D. and Talmadge, Michael and Dutta, Abhijit and Hensley, Jesse and Snowden-Swan, Lesley J. and Humbird, David and Schaidle, Joshua and Biddy, Mary},
abstractNote = {This paper describes in detail one potential conversion process for the production of highoctane gasoline blendstock via indirect liquefaction of biomass. The processing steps of this pathway include the conversion of biomass to synthesis gas via indirect gasifi cation, gas clean-up via reforming of tars and other hydrocarbons, catalytic conversion of syngas to methanol, methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether (DME), and the homologation of DME over a zeolite catalyst to high-octane gasoline range hydrocarbon products. The current process confi guration has similarities to conventional methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) technologies, but there are key distinctions, specifi cally regarding the product slate, catalysts, and reactor conditions. A techno-economic analysis is performed to investigate the production of high-octane gasoline blendstock. The design features a processing daily capacity of 2000 tonnes (2205 short tons) of dry biomass. The process yields 271 liters of liquid fuel per dry tonne of biomass (65 gal/dry ton), for an annual fuel production rate of 178 million liters (47 MM gal) at 90% on-stream time. The estimated total capital investment for an nth-plant is $438 million. The resulting minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) is $0.86 per liter or $3.25 per gallon in 2011 US dollars. A rigorous sensitivity analysis captures uncertainties in costs and plant performance. Sustainability metrics for the conversion process are quantifi ed and assessed. The potential premium value of the high-octane gasoline blendstock is examined and found to be at least as competitive as fossil-derived blendstocks.},
doi = {10.1002/bbb.1611},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1236955}, journal = {Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining},
issn = {1932-104X},
number = 1,
volume = 10,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Oct 28 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Wed Oct 28 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}

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Works referenced in this record:

Intrinsic Kinetics Study of Dimethyl Ether Synthesis from Methanol on γ-Al 2 O 3 Catalysts
journal, May 2008


Technoeconomic Analysis for the Production of Mixed Alcohols via Indirect Gasification of Biomass Based on Demonstration Experiments
journal, July 2014


Conversion of Dimethyl Ether to 2,2,3-Trimethylbutane over a Cu/BEA Catalyst: Role of Cu Sites in Hydrogen Incorporation
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Catalytic Co-Homologation of Alkanes and Dimethyl Ether and Promotion by Adamantane as a Hydride Transfer Co-Catalyst
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Biomass Pyrolysis and Gasification of Varying Particle Sizes in a Fluidized-Bed Reactor
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Gas Conversion to Liquid Fuels and Chemicals: The Methanol Route‐Catalysis and Processes Development
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Selective Homologation Routes to 2,2,3-Trimethylbutane on Solid Acids
journal, May 2009


Demonstration and Characterization of Ni/Mg/K/AD90 Used for Pilot-Scale Conditioning of Biomass-Derived Syngas
journal, December 2009


Pilot-Scale Gasification of Corn Stover, Switchgrass, Wheat Straw, and Wood: 1. Parametric Study and Comparison with Literature
journal, February 2010


Mechanistic details of acid-catalyzed reactions and their role in the selective synthesis of triptane and isobutane from dimethyl ether
journal, January 2011


Selective Homologation Routes to 2,2,3-Trimethylbutane on Solid Acids
journal, May 2009


Works referencing / citing this record:

Bio-based polymers production in a kraft lignin biorefinery: techno-economic assessment: Bio-based polymer production in a kraft lignin biorefinery
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An integrated sustainability evaluation of high‐octane gasoline production from lignocellulosic biomass
journal, August 2019


Methanol to high-octane gasoline within a market-responsive biorefinery concept enabled by catalysis
journal, July 2019


Synthesis of Dimethyl Ether from Syngas on the Catalysts with the ZSM-5 Zeolites
journal, November 2018