TY - GEN
T1 - Themrochemical processing of biomass for farm-based economical production of methanol
AU - Anjom, Mouzhgun
AU - Ro, Kyoung
AU - Hunt, P. G.
AU - Mahajan, Devinder
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Biomass and natural gas (CH4) share a common feature: both represent C/H sources and can be readily converted to syngas. CH4 conversion pathways to clean fuels such as methanol and hydrocarbons (Fischer-Tropsch synthesis) are well developed though the overall C efficiency remains an issue. Biomass processing into fuels poses even a more serious challenge in terms of energy requirements because of its dilute energy content compared to CH4. Within the "Syngas Platform" for biomass, the availability of the two molecules (CO and H2) presents an opportunity to readily covert these into alcohols when mediated by catalysts though for smaller plants, the economy of scale precludes the application of any commercially available technology for such transformations. Thus for farm-based (small-scale) applications, the conversion of biomass to fuels via the non-fermentation route will require development of highly efficient catalysts. We have been investigating the Liquid Phase Low Temperature (LPLT) approach to synthesis of methanol from syngas. Our developed Ni-Ru catalyst operates under mild conditions of between 100° - 130°C and 2-5 MPa in a polyethylene glycol (PEG) solvent to attain CO conversion approaching 100% to methanol. The advantages of this single-pass system for farm-based fuel production will be discussed.
AB - Biomass and natural gas (CH4) share a common feature: both represent C/H sources and can be readily converted to syngas. CH4 conversion pathways to clean fuels such as methanol and hydrocarbons (Fischer-Tropsch synthesis) are well developed though the overall C efficiency remains an issue. Biomass processing into fuels poses even a more serious challenge in terms of energy requirements because of its dilute energy content compared to CH4. Within the "Syngas Platform" for biomass, the availability of the two molecules (CO and H2) presents an opportunity to readily covert these into alcohols when mediated by catalysts though for smaller plants, the economy of scale precludes the application of any commercially available technology for such transformations. Thus for farm-based (small-scale) applications, the conversion of biomass to fuels via the non-fermentation route will require development of highly efficient catalysts. We have been investigating the Liquid Phase Low Temperature (LPLT) approach to synthesis of methanol from syngas. Our developed Ni-Ru catalyst operates under mild conditions of between 100° - 130°C and 2-5 MPa in a polyethylene glycol (PEG) solvent to attain CO conversion approaching 100% to methanol. The advantages of this single-pass system for farm-based fuel production will be discussed.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/34047247038
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:34047247038
SN - 0841274266
SN - 9780841274266
T3 - ACS National Meeting Book of Abstracts
BT - Abstracts of Papers - 232nd American Chemical Society Meeting and Exposition
T2 - 232nd American Chemical Society Meeting and Exposition
Y2 - 10 September 2006 through 14 September 2006
ER -