Low-Temperature Catalytic Gasification of Wet Biomass Residues
Low-temperature hydrothermal gasification can be applied to biorefinery residues as an efficient energy recovery process. Through the use of a metal catalyst, gasification of wet biomass can be accomplished with high levels of carbon conversion to medium heating value gas at relatively low temperature (350 degrees Celsius). In the pressurized-water environment (21 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 is produced with high-levels of methane, as dictated by thermodynamic equilibrium. Processing systems and results will be described for both bench-scale and scaled-up reactor systems. The bench-scale systems include both short-term 1-liter batch reactor tests and longer-term continuous flow reactor tests using a 1-liter fixed bed of catalyst in a tubular reactor. The scaled-up reactor is a 4.4 liter version of the continuous flow system, which also includes a high-pressure heat exchanger to demonstrate process efficiency.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 15020376
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-40940; 5894; BM0101010; TRN: US200517%%548
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Second World Biomass Conference, Biomass for Energy, Industry, and Climate Protection, I:746-749
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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