Thermochemical biomass gasification—a review of the current status of the technology
TL;DR: A review of thermochemical biomass gasification for producing biofuels, biopower and chemicals can be found in this paper, where the authors discuss the challenges with gasification are to understand the effects of operating conditions on gasification reactions for reliably predicting and optimizing the product compositions, and for obtaining maximal efficiencies.
Abstract: A review was conducted on the use of thermochemical biomass gasification for producing biofuels, biopower and chemicals. The upstream processes for gasification are similar to other biomass processing methods. However, challenges remain in the gasification and downstream processing for viable commercial applications. The challenges with gasification are to understand the effects of operating conditions on gasification reactions for reliably predicting and optimizing the product compositions, and for obtaining maximal efficiencies. Product gases can be converted to biofuels and chemicals such as Fischer-Tropsch fuels, green gasoline, hydrogen, dimethyl ether, ethanol, methanol, and higher alcohols. Processes and challenges for these conversions are also summarized.
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TL;DR: This critical review provides a survey illustrated by recent references of different strategies to achieve a sustainable conversion of biomass to bioproducts to examine critically the green character of conversion processes.
Abstract: This critical review provides a survey illustrated by recent references of different strategies to achieve a sustainable conversion of biomass to bioproducts. Because of the huge number of chemical products that can be potentially manufactured, a selection of starting materials and targeted chemicals has been done. Also, thermochemical conversion processes such as biomass pyrolysis or gasification as well as the synthesis of biofuels were not considered. The synthesis of chemicals by conversion of platform molecules obtained by depolymerisation and fermentation of biopolymers is presently the most widely envisioned approach. Successful catalytic conversion of these building blocks into intermediates, specialties and fine chemicals will be examined. However, the platform molecule value chain is in competition with well-optimised, cost-effective synthesis routes from fossil resources to produce chemicals that have already a market. The literature covering alternative value chains whereby biopolymers are converted in one or few steps to functional materials will be analysed. This approach which does not require the use of isolated, pure chemicals is well adapted to produce high tonnage products, such as paper additives, paints, resins, foams, surfactants, lubricants, and plasticisers. Another objective of the review was to examine critically the green character of conversion processes because using renewables as raw materials does not exempt from abiding by green chemistry principles (368 references).
2,077 citations
TL;DR: A critical appraisal of different synthetic approaches to Cu and Cu-based nanoparticles and copper nanoparticles immobilized into or supported on various support materials (SiO2, magnetic support materials, etc.), along with their applications in catalysis.
Abstract: The applications of copper (Cu) and Cu-based nanoparticles, which are based on the earth-abundant and inexpensive copper metal, have generated a great deal of interest in recent years, especially in the field of catalysis. The possible modification of the chemical and physical properties of these nanoparticles using different synthetic strategies and conditions and/or via postsynthetic chemical treatments has been largely responsible for the rapid growth of interest in these nanomaterials and their applications in catalysis. In addition, the design and development of novel support and/or multimetallic systems (e.g., alloys, etc.) has also made significant contributions to the field. In this comprehensive review, we report different synthetic approaches to Cu and Cu-based nanoparticles (metallic copper, copper oxides, and hybrid copper nanostructures) and copper nanoparticles immobilized into or supported on various support materials (SiO2, magnetic support materials, etc.), along with their applications i...
1,823 citations
TL;DR: This review presents a comprehensive description of the current pathways for recycling of polymers, via both mechanical and chemical recycling, and discusses the main challenges and some potential remedies to these recycling strategies, thus providing an academic angle as well as an applied one.
1,352 citations
TL;DR: In this article, solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC) have attracted a great interest in the last few years, as they offer significant power and higher efficiencies compared to conventional low temperature electrolysers.
786 citations
TL;DR: Past and present developments in hydrogenolysis reactions are highlighted, with special emphasis on the direct utilization of cellulosic feedstocks, to bridge currently available technologies and future biomass-based refinery concepts.
Abstract: In view of the diminishing oil resources and the ongoing climate change, the use of efficient and environmentally benign technologies for the utilization of renewable resources has become indispensible. Therein, hydrogenolysis reactions offer a promising possibility for future biorefinery concepts. These reactions result in the cleavage of C-C and C-O bonds by hydrogen and allow direct access to valuable platform chemicals already integrated in today's value chains. Thus, hydrogenolysis bears the potential to bridge currently available technologies and future biomass-based refinery concepts. This Review highlights past and present developments in this field, with special emphasis on the direct utilization of cellulosic feedstocks.
735 citations
References
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01 Jan 1984
TL;DR: Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook as mentioned in this paper is a free download pdf for chemical engineering applications, from the fundamentals to details on computer applications and control, and it can be found in any computer science course.
Abstract: Perry chemical engineers handbook free download pdf. Customers at an SAP AG event in Boston today expressed strong commitment to the vendors platform. Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook. All aspects of chemical engineering, from the fundamentals to details on computer applications and control. Definitive. Garner, G. O., “Careers in Engineering,” 2nd ed., VGM Career Books, in "Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook," 6th ed., McGraw-Hill, New York (1984).
7,890 citations
TL;DR: Hydrogen Production by Water−Gas Shift Reaction 4056 4.1.
Abstract: 1.0. Introduction 4044 2.0. Biomass Chemistry and Growth Rates 4047 2.1. Lignocellulose and Starch-Based Plants 4047 2.2. Triglyceride-Producing Plants 4049 2.3. Algae 4050 2.4. Terpenes and Rubber-Producing Plants 4052 3.0. Biomass Gasification 4052 3.1. Gasification Chemistry 4052 3.2. Gasification Reactors 4054 3.3. Supercritical Gasification 4054 3.4. Solar Gasification 4055 3.5. Gas Conditioning 4055 4.0. Syn-Gas Utilization 4056 4.1. Hydrogen Production by Water−Gas Shift Reaction 4056
7,067 citations
"Thermochemical biomass gasification..." refers background or methods in this paper
...CO, H2, CO2 and H2O are used to produce methanol using methanol synthesis reactions in the temperature range of 220 to 300 °C and pressures of 50 to 100 bars using Cu/ZnO catalysts (Equations 11 and 12) [12]....
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...Hot gas cleaning does not seem very beneficial for FT process because this process operates at lower temperature (200 °C) [12,91]....
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...But the high alkali contents in biomass, like sodium and potassium, cause slagging and fouling problems in gasification equipment [12]....
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...In the case of an indirectly heated gasifier, biomass or ungasified char is combusted in a separate chamber and heat exchanger tubes conduct the heat from the combustion chamber to the gasification chamber [12]....
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...Without a catalyst, the temperature required for tar cracking is above 850 °C which reduces efficiency, causes material problems and produces soot [12]....
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15 Dec 2005
TL;DR: The U.S. Department of Energy and the United States Department of Agriculture have both strongly committed to expanding the role of biomass as an energy source as mentioned in this paper, and they support biomass fuels and products as a way to reduce the need for oil and gas imports; to support the growth of agriculture, forestry, and rural economies; and to foster major new domestic industries making a variety of fuels, chemicals, and other products.
Abstract: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are both strongly committed to expanding the role of biomass as an energy source. In particular, they support biomass fuels and products as a way to reduce the need for oil and gas imports; to support the growth of agriculture, forestry, and rural economies; and to foster major new domestic industries--biorefineries--making a variety of fuels, chemicals, and other products. As part of this effort, the Biomass R&D Technical Advisory Committee, a panel established by the Congress to guide the future direction of federally funded biomass R&D, envisioned a 30 percent replacement of the current U.S. petroleum consumption with biofuels by 2030. Biomass--all plant and plant-derived materials including animal manure, not just starch, sugar, oil crops already used for food and energy--has great potential to provide renewable energy for America's future. Biomass recently surpassed hydropower as the largest domestic source of renewable energy and currently provides over 3 percent of the total energy consumption in the United States. In addition to the many benefits common to renewable energy, biomass is particularly attractive because it is the only current renewable source of liquid transportation fuel. This, of course, makes it invaluable in reducing oil imports--one of our most pressing energy needs. A key question, however, is how large a role could biomass play in responding to the nation's energy demands. Assuming that economic and financial policies and advances in conversion technologies make biomass fuels and products more economically viable, could the biorefinery industry be large enough to have a significant impact on energy supply and oil imports? Any and all contributions are certainly needed, but would the biomass potential be sufficiently large to justify the necessary capital replacements in the fuels and automobile sectors? The purpose of this report is to determine whether the land resources of the United States are capable of producing a sustainable supply of biomass sufficient to displace 30 percent or more of the country's present petroleum consumption--the goal set by the Advisory Committee in their vision for biomass technologies. Accomplishing this goal would require approximately 1 billion dry tons of biomass feedstock per year.
2,637 citations
TL;DR: A brief review of the main conversion processes is presented, with specific regard to the production of a fuel suitable for spark ignition gas engines.
1,919 citations
Additional excerpts
...NOx and SOx emissions [9,70,71]....
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TL;DR: In this paper, a review of the research and development in this area are reviewed and cited in the present paper, and the concepts of two-stage gasification and secondary air injection in the gasifier are of prime importance.
Abstract: Tar formation is one of the major problems to deal with during biomass gasification. Tar condenses at reduced temperature, thus blocking and fouling process equipments such as engines and turbines. Considerable efforts have been directed on tar removal from fuel gas. Tar removal technologies can broadly be divided into two approaches; hot gas cleaning after the gasifier (secondary methods), and treatments inside the gasifier (primary methods). Although secondary methods are proven to be effective, treatments inside the gasifier are gaining much attention as these may eliminate the need for downstream cleanup. In primary treatment, the gasifier is optimized to produce a fuel gas with minimum tar concentration. The different approaches of primary treatment are (a) proper selection of operating parameters, (b) use of bed additive/catalyst, and (c) gasifier modifications. The operating parameters such as temperature, gasifying agent, equivalence ratio, residence time, etc. play an important role in formation and decomposition of tar. There is a potential of using some active bed additives such as dolomite, olivine, char, etc. inside the gasifier. Ni-based catalyst are reported to be very effective not only for tar reduction, but also for decreasing the amount of nitrogenous compounds such as ammonia. Also, reactor modification can improve the quality of the product gas. The concepts of two-stage gasification and secondary air injection in the gasifier are of prime importance. Some aspects of primary methods and the research and development in this area are reviewed and cited in the present paper.
1,352 citations
"Thermochemical biomass gasification..." refers background or methods in this paper
...Various gasifier designs, such as secondary injection of air or oxygen into the gasifier and two-stage gasification systems, also can result in lower tar contents [56]....
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...Devi reviewed the methods for removing tar from syngas, with a focus on primary tar removal methodologies [56]....
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