Biomass to hydrogen via pyrolysis amd reforming

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:254833

Mann, M; Chornet, E; Czernik, S ^[1]

---

1. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO (United States)

Pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass and reforming of the pyroligneous oils is being studied as a strategy for the production of hydrogen. New technologies for the rapid pyrolysis of biomass provide compact and efficient systems to transform biomass into vapors which are condensed to oils, with yields as high as 75-80% by weight of the anhydrous biomass. This {open_quotes}biocrude{close_quotes} is a mixture of aldehydes, alcohols, acids, oligomers from the constitutive carbohydrates and lignin, and some water produced during the dehydration reactions. Hydrogen can be produced by reforming the biocrude with steam. A process of this nature has the potential to be cost competitive with conventional means of hydrogen production. The concept of hydrogen from biomass offers significant opportunities for novel research and development. Thermodynamic modelling of the major constituents of the biocrude has shown that reforming is possible within a wide range of steam/compound ratios. Additionally, catalytic reforming of model compounds to hydrogen using a Ni-based catalyst has begun. Existing catalytic data on the reforming of oxygenates has been studied to guide catalyst selection. An initial process diagram for the pyrolysis and reforming operations has been devised, and economic boundary estimates have been calculated.

• OSTI ID: 254833
• Report Number(s): CONF-940813--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
09 BIOMASS FUELS
ALDEHYDES
BIOMASS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CATALYTIC REFORMING
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
LIGNIN
NATURAL GAS
NICKEL
PYROLYSIS
PYROLYTIC OILS