Liquid fuels production from biomass. Progress report No. 10, October 1-December 31, 1979
It was found that marine algae could be converted to higher aliphatic organic acids and that these acids could be readily removed from the fermentation broth by membrane or liquid-liquid extraction. It was then proposed to convert these higher organic acids via Kolbe Electrolysis to aliphatic hydrocarbons, which may be used as a diesel fuel. A coenzyme M analogue, 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid has been shown to be an effective suppressor of methane in nonsterile anaerobic fermentation of cellulosic substrates. Preliminary experiments have also been completed utilizing corn meal in which 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid and carbon monoxide were both found to be effective methane suppressors. An analysis of the energy outputs and requirements for the production of liquid hydrocarbon fuel from corn has been performed. As a means of expanding the number of potential substrates, pretreatment schemes are being investigated. A tapered auger device has been designed and built which has been demonstrated on the bench to be effective for adding substrate and removing residue in a continuous manner from a fixed packed bed fermenter. A solvent extractor system using kerosene as the nonaqueous phase has been constructed and is currently in operation in series with the 300 liter fixed packed bed fermenter. Although additional work is required to optimize the electrolysis process, the electrolytic oxidation of organic acids produced in the 300 liter fixed packed bed fermenter is operating with a favorable energy balance of 6/1 based on the applied potential.
- Research Organization:
- Dynatech Corp., Cambridge, MA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-77ET20050
- OSTI ID:
- 5323937
- Report Number(s):
- COO-4388-10
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Liquid fuels production from biomass. Progress report No. 8, July 1-September 30, 1979
Liquid fuels production from biomass. Progress report No. 8, April 1-June 30, 1979
Related Subjects
HYDROCARBONS
ELECTROLYSIS
PRODUCTION
ORGANIC ACIDS
BIOSYNTHESIS
ALGAE
CARBON MONOXIDE
DIESEL FUELS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
EXTRACTION
FERMENTATION
INHIBITION
MAIZE
METHANE
NET ENERGY
PACKED BED
SULFONIC ACIDS
ALKANES
BIOCONVERSION
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CEREALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY ANALYSIS
FLUIDS
FUELS
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
LYSIS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLANTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SYNTHESIS
140504* - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)
090122 - Hydrocarbon Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)