Indirect liquefaction of coal via biosynthesis. Technical progress quarterly report No. 2

Technical Report · Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5711416

Bioconversion of coal-derived syngas offers the possibility of efficient and selective conversion of coal to desired products, under the potentially advantageous economic conditions of low temperature and pressure. The objectives of this portion of the program are to: evaluate the technical and economic possibilities for developing a bioprocess for conversion of syngas to liquid fuels; and identify the biochemical operating conditions necessary for economic operation. Insights gained through these conceptual level engineering assessments will then be used to justify and guide follow-on microorganism and process experimental development. Three revised design cases were submitted to DOE for review. These following revised cases (described in Appendix A of this report) were selected to reflect comments by Bechtel's consultants and DOE on the preliminary concepts described in the February 1986 Technical Progress Quarterly Report: (1) Two-stage bioconversion of syngas first to acetate and then to ethanol. (2) Two-stage bioconversion of syngas first to acetate and then to butyric acid. The butyric acid is catalytically esterified with methanol or ethanol to the corresponding butyrate product. (3) Methanol preparation from purified syngas followed by bioconversion of the methanol with CO/sub 2/ to butyric acid. The butyric acid is then esterified with a portion of the methanol to butyrate product. Based on DOE comments and further engineering review, four additional design concepts were developed (Appendix B): (1) two-stage bioconversion of syngas to ethanol; (2) conversion of syngas to ethanol in a single bioreaction stage; (3) two-stage bioconversion of syngas first to acetate and then to n-butanol; and (4) conversion of syngas to n-butanol in a single bioreaction stage. 7 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Bechtel National, Inc., San Francisco, CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC22-85PC80013
• OSTI ID: 5711416
• Report Number(s): DOE/PC/80013-T2; ON: DE86011276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
BUTANOLS
BIOSYNTHESIS
BUTYRIC ACID
ESTERIFICATION
ETHANOL
METHANOL
SYNTHESIS GAS
BIOCONVERSION
ACETIC ACID ESTERS
BIOREACTORS
FLOWSHEETS
MICROORGANISMS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ALCOHOLS
CARBOXYLIC ACID ESTERS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DIAGRAMS
ESTERS
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SYNTHESIS
090221* - Alcohol Fuels- Chemical Synthesis- (1976-1989)