Through the use of a metal catalyst, gasification of wet biomass can be accomplished with high levels of carbon conversion to gas at relatively low temperature (350 degrees Celsius). In the pressurized-water environment (3000 psig) near-total conversion of the organic structure of biomass to gases has been accomplished in the presence of a ruthenium metal catalyst. The process is essentially steam reforming as there is no added oxidizer or reagent other than water. In addition, the gas produced is a medium-heating value gas due to the synthesis of high-levels of methane, as dictated by thermodynamic equilibrium. Processing systems and results are described for both bench-scale and scaled-up reactor systems.
Revised: February 18, 2005 |
Published: November 16, 2003
Citation
Elliott D.C., G.G. Neuenschwander, T.R. Hart, A.H. Zacher, and R.S. Butner. 2003.Low-Temperature Catalytic Gasification of Wet Biomass. In AIChE 2003 Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings, n/a. New York, New York:AIChE.PNNL-SA-39410.