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Title: Chemical Processing in High-Pressure Aqueous Environments. 9. Process Development for Catalytic Gasification of Algae Feedstocks

Abstract

Through the use of a metal catalyst, gasification of wet algae slurries can be accomplished with high levels of carbon conversion to gas at relatively low temperature (350 C). In a pressurized-water environment (20 MPa), near-total conversion of the organic structure of the algae to gases has been achieved in the presence of a supported ruthenium metal catalyst. The process is essentially steam reforming, as there is no added oxidizer or reagent other than water. In addition, the gas produced is a medium-heating value gas due to the synthesis of high levels of methane, as dictated by thermodynamic equilibrium. As opposed to earlier work, biomass trace components were removed by processing steps so that they did not cause processing difficulties in the fixed catalyst bed tubular reactor system. As a result, the algae feedstocks, even those with high ash contents, were much more reliably processed. High conversions were obtained even with high slurry concentrations. Consistent catalyst operation in these short-term tests suggested good stability and minimal poisoning effects. High methane content in the product gas was noted with significant carbon dioxide captured in the aqueous byproduct in combination with alkali constituents and the ammonia byproduct derived from proteins in themore » algae. High conversion of algae to gas products was found with low levels of byproduct water contamination and low to moderate loss of carbon in the mineral separation step.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1051180
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-87140
Journal ID: ISSN 0888-5885; IECRED; BM0102030; TRN: US201218%%1285
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 51; Journal Issue: 33; Journal ID: ISSN 0888-5885
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; 03 NATURAL GAS; 09 BIOMASS FUELS; ALGAE; AMMONIA; ASH CONTENT; BIOMASS; CARBON; CARBON DIOXIDE; CATALYSTS; CONTAMINATION; GASES; GASIFICATION; METHANE; OXIDIZERS; POISONING; PROCESSING; PROTEINS; RUTHENIUM; SLURRIES; STABILITY; STEAM; SYNTHESIS; THERMODYNAMICS; WATER; gasification; hydrothermal; catalysis; algae; biomass

Citation Formats

Elliott, Douglas C, Hart, Todd R, Neuenschwander, Gary G, Rotness, Leslie J, Olarte, Mariefel V, and Zacher, Alan H. Chemical Processing in High-Pressure Aqueous Environments. 9. Process Development for Catalytic Gasification of Algae Feedstocks. United States: N. p., 2012. Web. doi:10.1021/ie300933w.
Elliott, Douglas C, Hart, Todd R, Neuenschwander, Gary G, Rotness, Leslie J, Olarte, Mariefel V, & Zacher, Alan H. Chemical Processing in High-Pressure Aqueous Environments. 9. Process Development for Catalytic Gasification of Algae Feedstocks. United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie300933w
Elliott, Douglas C, Hart, Todd R, Neuenschwander, Gary G, Rotness, Leslie J, Olarte, Mariefel V, and Zacher, Alan H. 2012. "Chemical Processing in High-Pressure Aqueous Environments. 9. Process Development for Catalytic Gasification of Algae Feedstocks". United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie300933w.
@article{osti_1051180,
title = {Chemical Processing in High-Pressure Aqueous Environments. 9. Process Development for Catalytic Gasification of Algae Feedstocks},
author = {Elliott, Douglas C and Hart, Todd R and Neuenschwander, Gary G and Rotness, Leslie J and Olarte, Mariefel V and Zacher, Alan H},
abstractNote = {Through the use of a metal catalyst, gasification of wet algae slurries can be accomplished with high levels of carbon conversion to gas at relatively low temperature (350 C). In a pressurized-water environment (20 MPa), near-total conversion of the organic structure of the algae to gases has been achieved in the presence of a supported ruthenium metal catalyst. The process is essentially steam reforming, as there is no added oxidizer or reagent other than water. In addition, the gas produced is a medium-heating value gas due to the synthesis of high levels of methane, as dictated by thermodynamic equilibrium. As opposed to earlier work, biomass trace components were removed by processing steps so that they did not cause processing difficulties in the fixed catalyst bed tubular reactor system. As a result, the algae feedstocks, even those with high ash contents, were much more reliably processed. High conversions were obtained even with high slurry concentrations. Consistent catalyst operation in these short-term tests suggested good stability and minimal poisoning effects. High methane content in the product gas was noted with significant carbon dioxide captured in the aqueous byproduct in combination with alkali constituents and the ammonia byproduct derived from proteins in the algae. High conversion of algae to gas products was found with low levels of byproduct water contamination and low to moderate loss of carbon in the mineral separation step.},
doi = {10.1021/ie300933w},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1051180}, journal = {Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research},
issn = {0888-5885},
number = 33,
volume = 51,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jul 26 00:00:00 EDT 2012},
month = {Thu Jul 26 00:00:00 EDT 2012}
}