Progress on catalyzed steam gasification of biomass

Conference · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6353312

Mudge, L K; Mitchell, D H; Weber, S L; Sealock, Jr, L J; Robertus, R J

The overall objective of the PNL studies is to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of producing specific gas products via catalytic gasification of biomass. Specific products that are being studied include (a) methane, (b) synthesis gases for production of ammonia, methanol, and hydrocarbons, (c) hydrogen, and (d) carbon monoxide. In the studies, yields of high-value, gaseous products from a single-reaction stage are enhanced by the proper choice of reactants, operating conditions, and catalyst combinations. Gaseous products, successfully produced by the various steam gasification systems employed to date, include synthesis gases for hydrocarbon, methanol, and ammonia generation and a methane-rich gas. This report details progress of the laboratory studies, process development unit (PDU) studies, and economic analyses conducted at PNL since the eleventh Contractors' Meeting in September 1980. Laboratory studies are presently concentrated on development of regenerable catalyst systems. Conditions for generation of an ammonia synthesis gas and use of alternative feedstocks will also be studied. Operations in the PDU on evaluation of yields with a wood feedstock have been completed at atmospheric pressure. Modifications for operation at 100 psig are underway. Wood and alternative feedstock will be tested in the modified PDU. Evaluation of yields and determination of catalyst durability will be studied. The economics of plants for generation of methane from wood and methanol from wood have been determined. The ASPEN computer code is being developed to use for updating process economics and for evaluating alternative processing schemes.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6353312
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-9350; CONF-810360-4; ON: DE81028198
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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A CODES
ALCOHOLS
ALKANES
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
AMMONIA
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
BIOMASS
BIOMASS CONVERSION PLANTS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CATALYSIS
CATALYSTS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
COMPUTER CODES
DATA
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FLUIDS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
HYDRIDES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
METALS
METHANE
METHANOL
NICKEL
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESS DEVELOPMENT UNITS
REGENERATION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
STEAM
SYNTHESIS
SYNTHESIS GAS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WOOD
YIELDS