Catalysis in biomass gasification
The objective of these studies is to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of producing specific gas products by catalytic gasification of biomass. Catalyst performance is a key factor in the feasibility of catalytic gasification processes. The results of studies designed to gain a fundamental understanding of catalytic mechanisms and causes of deactivation, and discussion of the state-of-the-art of related catalytic processes are presented. Experiments with primary and secondary catalysts were conducted in a 5-cm-diameter, continuous-wood-feed, fixed-catalyst-bed reactor. The primary catalysts used in the experiments were alkali carbonates mixed with the biomass feed; the secondary catalysts included nickel or other transition metals on supports such as alumina, silica, or silica-alumina. The primary catalysts were found to influence wood pyrolysis as well as the char/steam reaction. Secondary catalysts were used in a fixed-bed configuration to direct gas phase reactions. Results of the performance of these catalysts are presented. Secondary catalysts were found to be highly effective for conversion of biomass to specific gas products: synthesis gases and methane-rich gas. With an active catalyst, equilibrium gas composition are obtained, and all liquid pyrolysis products are converted to gases. The major cause of catalyst deactivation was carbon deposition, or coking. Loss of surface area by sintering was also inportant. Catalyst deactivation by sulfur poisoning was observed when bagasse was used as the feedstock for catalytic gasification. Mechanisms of catalyst activity and deactivation are discussed. Model compounds (methane, ethylene, and phenol) were used to determine coking behavior of catalysts. Carbon deposition is more prevalent with ethylene and phenol than with methane. Catalyst formulations that are resistant to carbon deposition are presented. 60 references, 10 figures, 21 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 7035759
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-5030; ON: DE84014555
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
CARBONATES
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
METHANE
PRODUCTION
NICKEL
SYNTHESIS GAS
WOOD
GASIFICATION
ALUMINIUM
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON MONOXIDE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLOWSHEETS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROGEN
METHANOL
NITROGEN
PACKED BED
PHENOLS
SILICA
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
ALCOHOLS
ALKANES
AROMATICS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DATA
DIAGRAMS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
METALS
MINERALS
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
090122* - Hydrocarbon Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)
140504 - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)
400201 - Chemical & Physicochemical Properties