Search

Pyrolysis offers a rapid and efficient means to depolymerize lignocellulosic biomass, resulting in gas, liquid, and solid products with varying yields and compositions depending on the process conditions. With respect to manufacture of "drop-in" liquid transportation fuels from biomass, a potential benefit from pyrolysis arises from the production of a liquid or vapor that could possibly be integrated into existing refinery infrastructure, thus offsetting the capital-intensive investment needed for a smaller scale, standalone biofuels production facility. However, pyrolysis typically yields a significant amount of reactive, oxygenated species including organic acids, aldehydes, ketones, and oxygenated aromatics. These oxygenated species present significant challenges that will undoubtedly require pre-processing of a pyrolysisderived stream before the pyrolysis oil can be integrated into the existing refinery infrastructure. Here we present a perspective of how the overall chemistry of pyrolysis products must be modified to ensure optimal integration in standard petroleum refineries, and we explore the various points of integration in the refinery infrastructure. In addition, we identify several research and development needs that will answer critical questions regarding the technical and economic feasibility of refinery integration of pyrolysis- derived products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A multi-stage catalyst development approach is used to evaluate and optimize fluidizable tar reforming catalysts for conditioning syngas from biomass gasification. Previous work showed that catalyst fluidization is required to efficiently reform biomass-derived pyrolysis oil and its fractions to syngas as fluidization optimizes contact between catalyst particles and feedstocks while reducing coke formation. Biomass-derived tars like pyrolysis oils are also complex, largely aromatic feedstocks that require fluidization to improve reforming efficiency. Because industrial reforming catalysts are designed for fixed-bed operations and not for fluidized processing, attrition resistant supports and catalysts required development. We identified and tested particulate aluminas for attrition resistance under fluidized steam reforming conditions and prepared nickel-based catalysts from the strongest supports. The performance of these catalysts was tested in a microactivity test system (MATS), which used 1g catalyst quantities, had high throughput, and measured oxidation, reduction and model tar compound steam reforming. Promising candidates from MATS screening were next evaluated in a laboratory-scale fluidized bed reactor with 250g of catalyst using more realistic flow conditions and input streams. A 60kg batch of the best catalyst identified in the laboratory fluid bed was then prepared and evaluated for biomass-derived syngas conditioning in a pilot-scale reformer. Fresh and used catalysts were characterized with scanning electron, energy dispersive X-ray, and inductively coupled plasma spectroscopies. The most active and attrition resistant catalyst identified through multi-stage testing contains nickel, magnesium and potassium on 90% alpha alumina particles of 100–400μm size. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]