Production from biomass

The means by which synthetic gaseous fuels could be produced from a variety of biomass sources are variable and many of the known gasification technologies can be appHed to the problem (70,71,76—82). For example, the Lurgi circulatory fluidized-bed gasifier is available for the production of gaseous products from biomass feedstocks as well as from coal (83,84). 

In principle biomass is a useful fuel for fuel cells many of the technologies discussed above for using biomass as a fuel produce either methane or hydrogen directly and as highlighted below synthesis gas production from biomass for conversion to methanol is an attractive option. Cellulose-based material may be converted to a mixture of hydrogen (70% hydrogen content recovered), CO2 and methane by high-temperature treatment with a nickel catalyst. 

Whilst the basic process for generation and conversion of syngas is well established, production from biomass poses several challenges. These centre on the co-production of tars and hydrocarbons during the biomass gasification process, which is typically carried out at 800 °C. Recent advances in the production of more robust catalysts and catalytic membrane reactors should overcome many of these challenges. 

Hydrogen production from biomass>ethanol at ambient temperature with novel diaphragm reactor... 

Hydrogen Production from Biomass-Derived Methanol.213... 

Features of Different Gasifiers for Large-Scale Hydrogen-Rich Gas Production from Biomass... 

McKendry, P., Energy production from biomass (part 3) Gasification technologies. Bioresource Technology 2002, 83,55-63. 

Demirbas, A., Hydrogen production from biomass by the gasification process. Energy Sources 2002, 24, 59. 

Dong, Y. Steinberg, M., Hynol—an economical process for methanol production from biomass and natural gas with reduced C02 emission. In 10th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Block, D. L., Veziroglu, T. N. Eds., Beach, Florida, June 20-24,1994, pp. 495-504. 

It must also be recognized that as with all sources of hydrogen, production from biomass will require appropriate hydrogen storage and utilization systems to be developed and deployed. 

Figure 15.9 shows the capital investments required for hydrogen infrastructure up to 2030. Onsite SMRs dominate in the early years. After 2025, central production, from biomass and coal, becomes significant, accompanied by pipeline delivery systems and stations. Later on, central production dominates in large cities, although onsite reformers persist in other areas. By 2030, the majority of capital investment is in central plants and pipeline delivery. 

Both the production of hydrogen from coal and the production of oil from unconventional resources (oil sands, oil shale, CTL, GTL) result in high C02 emissions and substantially increase the carbon footprint of fuel supply, unless the C02 is captured and stored. While the capture of C02 at a central point source is equally possible for unconventionals and centralised hydrogen production, in the case of hydrogen, a C02-free fuel results, unlike in the case of liquid hydrocarbon fuels. This is all the more important, as around 80% of the WTW C02 emissions result from the fuel use in the vehicles. If CCS were applied to hydrogen production from biomass, a net C02 removal from the atmosphere would even be achievable. 

Biorefineries New catalytic pretreatment of plant materials Valorization, pretreatment or disposal of co-products and wastes from biorefinery by catalytic treatments New and/or improved catalytic processes for chemicals production through the integration of the biorefinery concept and products into the existing chemical production chain New advanced catalytic solutions to reduce waste emissions (solid, air and, especially, water) New catalysts to selectively de-oxygenate products from biomass transformation Catalysts to selectively convert chemicals in complex multicomponent feedstocks New biomimetic catalysts able to operate under mild conditions Small catalytic pyrolysis process to produce stabilized oil for further processing in larger plants... 

MARCHAIM, U., and CRIDEN, J. Research and development in the utilization of agricultural wastes in Israel for energy, feedstock fodder, and industrial products. In D.L.Wise (Ed), Fuel Gas Production from Biomass . Vol. 1, CRC Press Inc. Boca Raton, Florida, pp. 95-120, 1981. 

Ami, S. 2004. Hydrogen-rich gas production from biomass via thermochemical pathways. Energy Edu Sei Teehnol 13 47-54. 

Giillii, D. 2003. Effect of catalyst on yield of liquid products from biomass via pyrolysis. Energy Sources 25 753-765. 

Catalytie synthesis from CO and Hj Natural gas Petroleum gas Distillation of liquid from eoal pyrolysis Catalytic synthesis from CO and Hj Distillation of liquid from wood pyrolysis Gaseous products from biomass gasification Synthetic gas from biomass and coal... 

Fig. 3.8 Green diesel and other products from biomass via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis...

Table 6.3 Yields of products from biomass sampl es by pyrolysis at different temperatures ...

Products from biomass by supercritical water (SCW) depend on the nature and stracture of the biomass. The effects of SCW on the biomass constituents should be separately studied. For example SCW affects unsatmated compounds, and unsaturated fatty and resin acids, rather than those of saturated ones under different reaction conditions (Watanabe et al., 2006). The diffusion or mass transfer rate of SCW into the individual component of biomass has been studied separately (Antal et al., 2000 Feng et al., 2004). 

Demirbas, A. 2002a. Gaseous products from biomass by pyrolysis and gasification effects of catalyst on hydrogen yield. Energy Convers Manage 43 897-909. 

Demirbas, A. 2005b. Hydrogen production from biomass via supercritical water extraction. Energy Sources 27 1409-1417. 

Yan, Q., Guo, L., Lu, Y. 2006. Thermodynamic analysis of hydrogen production from biomass gasification in supercritical water. Energy Convers Manage 47 1515-1528. 

Ni, M., Eeung, D.Y.C., Eeung, M.K.H., Sumalty, K. 2006. An overview of hydrogen production from biomass. Euel Proc Technol 87 461 72. 

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