Investigation of gasification of biomass in the presence of catalysts

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6891025

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

The overall objectives of the studies reported are to determine the technical feasibility of catalytic processes for gasification of wood to specific products and to evaluate the economic feasibility of technically feasible processes. Specific products that are being studied include methane; synthesis gases for production of ammonia, methanol, and hydrocarbons; hydrogen; and carbon monoxide. Preliminary results are reported in work to assist in engineering and economic evaluation of plants to produce methanol and substitute pipeline gas from wood via catalytic steam gasification. Laboratory studies have addressed evaluation of catalyst life, catalyst regeneration and catalyst recycle for processes to generate methanol synthesis gas and methane from wood. An apparatus for determination of nickel surface area was assembled and operated to measure loss in catalyst activity. Several catalysts were tested that showed excellent resistance to poisoning by carbon deposition. Regeneration schemes were developed for catalysts used to generate a methane-rich gas. The process development unit was modified to operate as a fluid bed of catalyst. Catalyst physical requirements for fluidization with wood were defined. Operations for generation of a methane-rich gas were successfully completed at 500/sup 0/C. Operating temperatures have been limited to 500/sup 0/C. Installation of in-bed heaters should allow operation of the PDU gasifier at temperatures over 700/sup 0/C as needed for synthesis gas generation. The feasibility studies are designed to evaluate the economic attractiveness and the commercial applicability of the technically feasible processes. Plant size under study is 2000 tons of dry wood per day. Status of the engineering evaluation and process simulation studies is presented. (LEW)

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6891025
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-7939-Rev.3; CONF-800973-5-Rev.3; ON: DE83002736
• 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)
ALCOHOLS
ALKANES
BIOMASS
CARBON
CATALYSTS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FLUIDIZED BED
FLUIDS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
METALS
METHANE
METHANOL
MICROSCOPY
NICKEL
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROCESS DEVELOPMENT UNITS
PRODUCTION
REGENERATION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SERVICE LIFE
SYNTHESIS
SYNTHESIS GAS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WOOD