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In this study, an algae biomass gasification process using a dual fluidized bed with combined power and methanol cogeneration was developed. The gasification process was modeled using Aspen Plus and validated using experimental data of two microalgae species (Nannochloropsis oculata and Dunaliella salina) commonly found on the western coast of Saudi Arabia. The impacts of different operating conditions, including the gasifier temperature, steam-to-biomass ratio, and algae-char split ratio, on the compositions of four main gases (CO, CO2, CH4, and H2) were investigated. The results of the parametric studies indicated that the gasification temperature has a significant effect on the composition of the synthesis gas, where 700–850 °C was the ideal operating range for gasification. Altering the ratio of biomass to steam showed a slightly smaller effect on the synthesis gas composition. The char split ratio should be kept below 75% to ensure an adequate heat supply to the process. The proposed process successfully converted 45.7% of the biomass feed to methanol at a production capacity of 290 metric tons per day. On the other hand, 38 MW of electricity capacity was generated in the combined power cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient valorization of lignin is crucial if we are to replace current petroleum‐based feedstock and establish more sustainable and competitive lignocellulosic biorefineries. Pulp and paper mills and second‐generation biorefineries produce large quantities of low‐value technical lignin as a by‐product, which is often combusted on‐site for energy recovery. This Review focuses on the conversion of technical lignins by oxidative depolymerization employing heterogeneous catalysts. It scrutinizes the current literature describing the use of various heterogeneous catalysts in the oxidative depolymerization of lignin and includes a comparison of the methods, catalyst loadings, reaction media, and types of catalyst applied, as well as the reaction products and yields. Furthermore, current techniques for the determination of product yields and product recovery are discussed. Finally, challenges and suggestions for future approaches are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gasification processes convert carbon-containing material into syngas through chemical reactions in the presence of gasifying agents such as air, oxygen, and steam. Syngas mixtures produced from such processes consist mainly of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H 2 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and methane (CH 4 ); this gas can be directly utilised as a fuel to produce electricity or steam. Besides, it is regarded as a basic feedstock within the petrochemical and conventional refining industries, producing various useful products like methanol, hydrogen, ammonia, and acetic acid. In this work, a rigorous process model is developed to simulate the co-gasification of coal-biomass blends through an entrained flow gasifier. The proposed model is tested originally for American coal. The model validation is made against literature data and results show good agreement with these practical data, providing a robust basis for integration and retrofitting applications. Effects of critical parameters, comprising gasification temperature, steam/O 2 ratio, and feedstock variability on the syngas composition and gasifier efficiency are studied. The developed model is further applied in a project to revamp an existing Egyptian natural gas-based power plant, replacing its standard fuel with coal-rice straw blends. The revamping project integrates the existing plant with a gasification unit burning a blend of coal and rice straw to replace the conventional fuel used. The feedstock used constitutes a dry Egyptian coal and a coal-rice straw blend (10 wt% rice straw), gathered locally. Different blending scenarios are investigated and the best performance is achieved with coal to rice straw ratio of 90:10 on weight basis, attaining 85.7% cold gas efficiency and significant economic savings. Results showed that the total annualised cost of the revamped process decreased by 52.7% compared with a newly built integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin is a major component of lignocellulosic biomass and as such, it is processed in enormous amounts in the pulp and paper industry worldwide. In such industry it mainly serves the purpose of a fuel to provide process steam and electricity, and to a minor extent to provide low grade heat for external purposes. Also from other biorefinery concepts, including 2nd generation ethanol, increasing amounts of lignin will be generated. Other uses for lignin – apart from fuel production – are of increasing interest not least in these new biorefinery concepts. These new uses can broadly be divided into application of the polymer as such, native or modified, or the use of lignin as a feedstock for the production of chemicals. The present review focuses on the latter and in particular the advances in the biological routes for chemicals production from lignin. Such a biological route will likely involve an initial depolymerization, which is followed by biological conversion of the obtained smaller lignin fragments. The conversion can be either a short catalytic conversion into desired chemicals, or a longer metabolic conversion. In this review, we give a brief summary of sources of lignin, methods of depolymerization, biological pathways for conversion of the lignin monomers and the analytical tools necessary for characterizing and evaluating key lignin attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulosic biomass has emerged as a potentially attractive renewable energy source. Processing technologies of such biomass, particularly its primary separation, still lack economic justification due to intense energy requirements. Establishing an economically viable and energy efficient biorefinery scheme is a significant challenge. In this work, a systematic approach is proposed for improving basic/existing biorefinery designs. This approach is based on enhancing the efficiency of mass and energy utilization through the use of a hierarchical design approach that involves mass and energy integration. The proposed procedure is applied to a novel biorefinery called Organocat to minimize its energy and mass consumption and total annualized cost. An improved heat exchanger network with minimum energy consumption of 4.5 MJ/kg dry biomass is designed. An optimal recycle network with zero fresh water usage and minimum waste discharge is also constructed, making the process more competitive and economically attractive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]