Modularized Production of Value-Added Products and Fuels from Distributed Waste Carbon-Rich Feedstocks

Weber, Robert S.; Holladay, Johnathan E.

doi:10.1016/j.eng.2018.05.012

Title: Modularized Production of Value-Added Products and Fuels from Distributed Waste Carbon-Rich Feedstocks

Abstract

Here, we have adapted and characterized electrolysis reactors to complement the conversion of regional- and community-scale quantities of waste into fuel or chemicals. The overall process must be able to contend with a wide range of feedstocks, must be inherently safe, and should not rely on external facilities for co-reactants or heat rejection and supply. Our current approach is based on the upgrading of bio-oil produced by the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of carbon-containing waste feedstocks. HTL can convert a variety of feedstocks into a bio-oil that requires much less upgrading than the products of other ways of deconstructing biomass. We are now investigating the use of electrochemical processes for the further conversions needed to transform the bio-oil from HTL into fuel or higher value chemicals. We, and others, have shown that electrochemical reduction can offer adequate reaction rates and at least some of the necessary generality. In addition, an electrochemical reactor necessarily both oxidizes (removes electrons) on one side of the reactor and reduces (adds electrons) on the other side. Therefore, the two types of reactions could, in principle, be coupled to upgrade the bio-oil and simultaneously polish the water that is employed as a reactant and a carrier inmore »« less

Authors:: Weber, Robert S.; Holladay, Johnathan E.

Publication Date:: 2018-06-01

Research Org.:: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1564371

Alternate Identifier(s):: OSTI ID: 1439098; OSTI ID: 1509980

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-131136; PNNL-SA-135520
Journal ID: ISSN 2095-8099; S2095809917306860; PII: S2095809917306860

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

Resource Type:: Published Article

Journal Name:: Engineering

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Name: Engineering Journal Volume: 4 Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 2095-8099

Publisher:: Elsevier

Country of Publication:: China

Language:: English

Subject:: 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; Reducing generation and discharge of pollutants; Chemical engineering

Citation Formats


                    Weber, Robert S., and Holladay, Johnathan E. Modularized Production of Value-Added Products and Fuels from Distributed Waste Carbon-Rich Feedstocks.  China: N. p., 2018. 
Web.  doi:10.1016/j.eng.2018.05.012.

Copy to clipboard


                    Weber, Robert S., & Holladay, Johnathan E. Modularized Production of Value-Added Products and Fuels from Distributed Waste Carbon-Rich Feedstocks.  China.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2018.05.012

Copy to clipboard


                    Weber, Robert S., and Holladay, Johnathan E. Fri .  
"Modularized Production of Value-Added Products and Fuels from Distributed Waste Carbon-Rich Feedstocks".  China.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2018.05.012.

Copy to clipboard


                    
@article{osti_1564371,

  title        = {Modularized Production of Value-Added Products and Fuels from Distributed Waste Carbon-Rich Feedstocks},

  author       = {Weber, Robert S. and Holladay, Johnathan E.},

  abstractNote = {Here, we have adapted and characterized electrolysis reactors to complement the conversion of regional- and community-scale quantities of waste into fuel or chemicals. The overall process must be able to contend with a wide range of feedstocks, must be inherently safe, and should not rely on external facilities for co-reactants or heat rejection and supply. Our current approach is based on the upgrading of bio-oil produced by the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of carbon-containing waste feedstocks. HTL can convert a variety of feedstocks into a bio-oil that requires much less upgrading than the products of other ways of deconstructing biomass. We are now investigating the use of electrochemical processes for the further conversions needed to transform the bio-oil from HTL into fuel or higher value chemicals. We, and others, have shown that electrochemical reduction can offer adequate reaction rates and at least some of the necessary generality. In addition, an electrochemical reactor necessarily both oxidizes (removes electrons) on one side of the reactor and reduces (adds electrons) on the other side. Therefore, the two types of reactions could, in principle, be coupled to upgrade the bio-oil and simultaneously polish the water that is employed as a reactant and a carrier in the upstream HTL. Here, we overview a notional process, the possible conversion chemistry, and the economics of an HTL-electrochemical process.},

  doi          = {10.1016/j.eng.2018.05.012},

  journal      = {Engineering},

  number       = 3,

  volume       = 4,

  place        = {China},

  year         = {2018},

  month        = {6}

}

Copy to clipboard

Journal Article:

Free Publicly Available Full Text

Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2018.05.012

Other availability

Search WorldCat to find libraries that may hold this journal

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 10 works

Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Figures / Tables:

Fig. 1: A skid-mountable HTL unit developed at PNNL. The carboy pictured at front right has a volume of about 1 m³.

All figures and tables (13 total)

Save / Share:

Export Metadata

Save to My Library

Figures / Tables found in this record:

Figures/Tables have been extracted from DOE-funded journal article accepted manuscripts.

Similar Records in DOE PAGES and OSTI.GOV collections:

Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Biomass

Journal Article Elliott, Douglas C - IEA Bioenergy Task 34 Pyrolysis

Hydrothermal liquefaction technology is describes in its relationship to fast pyrolysis of biomass. The scope of work at PNNL is discussed and some intial results are presented. HydroThermal Liquefaction (HTL), called high-pressure liquefaction in earlier years, is an alternative process for conversion of biomass into liquid products. Some experts consider it to be pyrolysis in solvent phase. It is typically performed at about 350 C and 200 atm pressure such that the water carrier for biomass slurry is maintained in a liquid phase, i.e. below super-critical conditions. In some applications catalysts and/or reducing gases have been added to the systemmore »« less
Scaling Bioelectrochemical Biomass Conversion Technologies

Technical Report Radhakrishnan, Rajeswaran ; Inman, Maria ; Hall, Timothy ; ...

Wet and gaseous waste streams are widely geographically distributed, frequently in areas of high population density, affording them unique current and emerging market opportunities. When compared to terrestrial feedstocks, these waste streams are largely aggregated and any derivative biofuels, bioproducts, or biopower are close to end markets. Thus, various public and private entities are actively exploring and deploying novel solutions for waste stream valorization. Potential competition between biofuels, bio products, and other beneficial uses will likely be a key element of future markets, and clearly merits further analytical and modeling investigation. Cheap and renewable electricity leveraged with novel conversion technologiesmore »« less
Modularized production of fuels and other value‐added products from distributed, wasted, or stranded feedstocks

Journal Article Weber, Robert S. ; Holladay, Johnathan E. ; Jenks, Cynthia ; ... - Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Energy and Environment

Distributed, wasted, or stranded feedstocks, when converted and upgraded into fuels, could replace about one-fifth of the US demand for liquid fuels, which about equals the net import of petroleum by the US. We review the current state of modular approaches for conversion of these feedstocks, including the technology and economics associated with processing carbon-containing waste and stranded, carbon-containing gas. The wide geographic distribution of the feedstocks will require technology that can be scaled down effectively and that can be manufactured, installed, operated and monitored in ways that gain economies of mass production rather than economies of throughput scaling.
Cited by 8
https://doi.org/10.1002/wene.308
Modularized Production of Fuels and other Value-Added Products from Distributed, Wasted, or Stranded Feedstocks

Journal Article Weber, Robert S. ; Holladay, Johnathan E. ; Jenks, Cynthia ; ... - Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Energy and Environment

Distributed, wasted, or stranded feedstocks, when converted and upgraded into fuels, could replace about 6% of the US demand for liquid fuels, which is about 25% of the net import of petroleum by the US. We review the current state of modular approaches for conversion of these feedstocks, including the technology and economics associated with processing carbon-containing waste and stranded, carbon-containing gas. The wide geographic distribution of the feedstocks will require technology that can be scaled down effectively and that can be manufactured, installed, operated and monitored in ways that gain economies of mass production rather than economies of throughputmore » scaling.« less
https://doi.org/10.1002/wene.308
Biomass Feedstocks for Renewable Fuel Production: A review of the impacts of feedstock and pretreatment on the yield and product distribution of fast pyrolysis bio-oils and vapors

Journal Article Carpenter, Daniel ; Czernik, Stefan ; Jablonski, Whitney ; ... - Green Chemistry

Renewable transportation fuels from biomass have the potential to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and diversify global fuel supplies. Thermal conversion by fast pyrolysis converts up to 75% of the starting plant material (and its energy content) to a bio-oil intermediate suitable for upgrading to motor fuel. Woody biomass, by far the most widely-used and researched material, is generally preferred in thermochemical processes due to its low ash content and high quality bio-oil produced. However, the availability and cost of biomass resources, e.g. forest residues, agricultural residues, or dedicated energy crops, vary greatly by region and will be key determinatesmore »« less
https://doi.org/10.1039/c3gc41631c

Similar Records