Syngas based products

Methane and acetylene can be effectively produced from syngas (CO-H2) in non-thermal plasma conditions. Syngas-based production of methane is an exothermic process ... 

Scheme 6.114 Syngas-based production of ethylene glycol.

Methods for the large-scale production of hydrogen must be evaluated in the context of environmental impact and cost. Synthesis gas generation is the principal area requiring environmental controls common to all syngas-based processes. The nature of the controls depends on the feedstock and method of processing. 

Five of the chapters in this volume can be considered directly related to this topic. First, Edd Blekkan, 0yvind Borg, Vidar Froseth, and Anders Holmen (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim) review recent work on the effect of water on the Fischer-Tropsch reaction. Steam is both a reactant and product in this syngas-based process, and its effect on Co- and Fe-based catalysts is important in determining the activity and selectivity of the FT process. 

One shortcoming of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is its lack of selectivity in giving complex product mixtures. In an attempt to improve the selectivity of syngas-based hydrocarbon synthesis, Mobil researchers developed a process consisting of converting methyl alcohol (itself, however, produced from syngas) to gasoline (or other hydrocarbons) over a shape-selective intermediate-pore-size zeolite catalyst (H-ZSM-5) 22 78... 

The development of H2-based and syngas-based energy systems require multifaceted studies on hydrogen sources, hydrogen production, hydrogen separation, hydrogen storage, H2 utilization and fuel cells, H2 sensor, and safety aspects, as well... 

As you can see from this chapter, the syngas-based energy conversion process will play a more and more important role in the future energy portfolio of the world. Figure 11.29 summarized the gasification-based syngas conversion processes and products, which provide a good summary for this chapter. 

Depending on the plant size, the biomass feedstock used and the type of fuel to be produced different concepts for syngas-based fuels are under development today. However, other plant configurations and gasifiers up to 100 MW biomass input capacity exist but which are related to heat and power production today. 

Figure 6.2.1 Production of syngas based on fossil fuels and biomass.

Currently, naphtha reforming is of minor importance. Some hydrogen and syngas production based on naphtha still takes place at a few locations with no access to NG. 

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