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U.S. Department of Energy
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Flash methanolysis - the flash pyrolysis of biomass with methane gas

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6164198

The objective of this program is to provide a process chemistry data base for the conversion of biomass to liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon fuels and chemical feedstocks by a flash rapid pyrolysis technique. Because of a potentially attractive process application, the program has concentrated on the flash methanolysis of wood using methane as the pyrolysis gas. A 1-in. I.D. entrained downflow tubular reactor is used in these experiments. The product yields consists of ethylene, ethane, BTX (mainly benzene) and carbon monoxide. For pine wood at 1000C and 50 psi, the yields of ethylene is 8 times higher with methane gas than with helium. The ethylene and benzene yield increases with methane to wood mass flowrate ratio and reaches a saturation value. The ethylene and benzene yields reach over 50% based on wood carbon conversion and the CO yield reaches over 40% at high methane-to-wood ratios. The mechanism of formation of ethylene appears to be an interaction between a free radical derived from the wood and methane gas. Additional yield data are needed for hardwoods. A process design and evaluation study to determine the economic incentive is needed for converting wood to the commodity fuels and chemicals; ethylene, benzene, and methanol by the flash methanolysis process. 2 refs., 5 figs., 4 tabs.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76CH00016
OSTI ID:
6164198
Report Number(s):
BNL-37409; CONF-8510167-5; ON: DE86006239
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English