Chemical Processing in High-Pressure Aqueous Environments. 7. Process Development for Catalytic Gasification of Wet Biomass Feedstocks

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 2004 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ie034303o· OSTI ID:15007897

Elliott, Douglas C; Neuenschwander, Gary G; Hart, Todd R; Butner, Scott S; Zacher, Alan H; Engelhard, Mark H; Young, James S; McCready, David E

Through the use of a metal catalyst, gasification of wet biomass can be accomplished with high levels of carbon conversion to gas at relatively low temperature (350 C). In the pressurized-water environment (20 MPa) near-total conversion of the organic structure of biomass to gases has been accomplished in the presence of a ruthenium metal catalyst. The process is essentially steam reforming as there is no added oxidizer or reagent other than water. In addition, the gas produced is a medium-heating value gas due to the synthesis of high-levels of methane, as dictated by thermodynamic equilibrium. Biomass trace components cause processing difficulties using the fixed catalyst bed tubular reactor system. Results are described for both bench-scale and scaled-up reactor systems.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 15007897
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-40279; 5894; BM0101010
• Journal Information: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, Journal Name: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 43
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
09 BIOMASS FUELS
BIOMASS
CARBON
CATALYSTS
ENVIRONMENTAL MOLECULAR SCIENCES LABORATORY
NULL
GASES
GASIFICATION
METHANE
OXIDIZERS
PROCESSING
RUTHENIUM
STEAM
SYNTHESIS
THERMODYNAMICS
WATER