Catalytic gasification of bagasse for the production of methanol

Technical Report · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5124590· OSTI ID:5124590

Baker, E G; Brown, M D; Robertus, R J

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of catalytic gasification of bagasse to produce methanol. In previous studies, a catalytic steam gasification process was developed which converted wood to methanol synthesis gas in one step using nickel based catalysts in a fluid-bed gasifier. Tests in a nominal 1 ton/day process development unit (PDU) gasifier with these same catalysts showed bagasse to be a good feedstock for fluid-bed gasifiers, but the catalysts deactivated quite rapidly in the presence of bagasse. Laboratory catalyst screening tests showed K/sub 2/CO/sub 3/ doped on the bagasse to be a promising catalyst for converting bagasse to methanol synthesis gas. PDU tests with 10 wt % K/sub 2/CO/sub 3/ doped on bagasse showed the technical feasibility of this type of catalyst on a larger scale. A high quality synthesis gas was produced and carbon conversion to gas was high. The gasifier was successfully operated without forming agglomerates of catalyst, ash, and char in the gasifier. There was no loss of activity throughout the runs because catalysts is continually added with the bagasse. Laboratory tests showed about 80% of the potassium carbonate could be recovered and recycled with a simple water wash. An economic evaluation of the process for converting bagasse to methanol showed the required selling price of methanol to be significantly higher than the current market price of methanol. Several factors make this current evaluaton using bagasse as a feedstock less favorable: (1) capital costs are higher due to inflation and some extra costs required to use bagasse, (2) smaller plant sizes were considered so economies of scale are lost, and (3) the market price of methanol in the US has fallen 44% in the last six months. 24 refs., 14 figs., 16 tabs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5124590
• Report Number(s): PNL-5100; ON: DE86002551
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090122* -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
140504 -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
ALCOHOLS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
BAGASSE
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CATALYSTS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
ECONOMICS
FLUIDS
GASES
GASIFICATION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
METHANOL
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC WASTES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM CARBONATES
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
RECYCLING
SYNTHESIS
SYNTHESIS GAS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTES