Progress 09/01/07 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The 2008 reporting period is the first full year of this project titled, "Thermochemical Conversion of Woody Biomass to Fuels and Chemicals." Outputs generated from January 1st, 2008 to December 31st, 2008 include graduate student recruitment, the design and setup of experiments, and the presentation of thermochemical technologies to public audiences. Two doctoral students were recruited to investigate the production of liquid fuels from biomass using thermochemical conversion technologies. A Thermochemical Conversion Laboratory is being equipped to accommodate experiments in this area. A pyroprobe was recently purchased to provide the analytical capability needed to efficiently assess the products produced upon biomass pyrolysis at a small scale. This device was linked to a gas chromatograph using a mass spectrometer for detection. The laboratory now has the capability to generate chromatograms by pyrolyzing milligram quantities of sample. Mass spectrometry is used to identify the components that are separated upon chromatography. A 60 meter Restek 1701 capillary column was installed to analyze oxygenates such as anhydrosugars and organic acids, as the previous DB-5 column resulted in misshapen peaks. A screening study is now being performed to analyze for organic acids upon fast pyrolysis in the pyroprobe. In addition to the pyroprobe, a bench-scale screw-conveyor reactor is being constructed to study the mass and heat transfer characteristics related to the pyrolysis reaction. A reactor housing has been acquired and a feed hopper, an extruder screw, and a drive motor have been ordered. It is anticipated that the reactor and recovery units will be assembled to make an operational process by the end of the first quarter of 2009. Information about pyrolysis was disseminated to the general public during two occasions in the past year. The first was a guest lecture at Andrew's University in the spring, titled: "Thermochemical conversion of woody biomass to bio-oil and value-added co-products." The second was a presentation to the Benzie County Planning Commission, titled: "Bioenergy: Challenges, technology and the path forward." PARTICIPANTS: Christopher M. Saffron, PI Shantanu Kelkar, Doctoral Student Zhenglong Li, Doctoral Student TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Data collected from a pyroprobe connected to a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer suggest that the concentrations of selected organic acids that are produced upon pyrolysis can be quantified. Quantification of organic acids using this technique provides ability for screening biomass varieties that result in bio-oil with a reduced total acid number. Decreased acidity is a desirable as the liquid product, i.e. bio-oil, is to be stored and transported in steel tanks and pipes. Also, reduced acidity requires reduced hydrogen during bio-oil upgrading, resulting in lower upgrading costs. In addition to organic acids, selected anhydrosugars, furans, and phenolics can also be identified and quantified. Anhydrosugars have interesting chiral characteristics; furans can be used as solvents, while phenolics can be used as food flavorings, dyes, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals. Samples of forest biomass, agricultural residues, and energy crops will be analytically pyrolyzed during the first quarter of 2009. Those plant varieties that exhibit favorable acidities are candidates for bench-scale pyrolysis in the screw-conveyor reactor currently being constructed.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
This project, involving the thermochemical conversion of woody biomass to fuels and chemicals, is in the early stages of achieving objectives. Quantifiable outputs, e.g. journal articles and conference presentations, have yet to manifest. From the start date of August 16th to the present, tasks have included: graduate student recruitment, the statement of testable hypotheses, pyrolysis reactor design, analytical method development, and the development of a techno-economic model. Bio-oil fractionation is being considered as a focus area, though bio-oil upgrading to stationary and transportation fuel remains an objective. One graduate student has been recruited and will begin in February of 2008. This student will focus on wood conversion to fuels and chemicals using fast pyrolysis of biomass. A list of candidate wood species has been assembled, and the graduate student will convert selected wood species to fuels and chemicals during graduate study. In addition to
Michigan native tree species, genetically modified trees are being considered for conversion. The academic and professional literatures are being reviewed, resulting in several hypothesis statements. Limitations inherent in pyrolysis are being considered as topics for further investigation. These limitations include heat transfer, mass transfer, multiphase fluid flow, and reaction kinetics. Identifying fundamental limitations for bio-oil production is a matter of continued investigation. In addition to bio-oil production, bio-oil fractionation is being considered as a means of generating value-added molecules. Means of separating bio-oil components, such as distillation and solvent extraction, are being reviewed for further investigation. These value-added chemicals can serve as products or intermediates that will enhance the profitability of bio-oil production. Several reactor configurations have been examined, though pyrolysis reactor design is ongoing. The goal reactor design is
the construction of a sufficiently flexible research tool that has qualities amenable for scale-up. Ablative, fixed bed, fluidized bed, rotating cone and cyclonic reactor configurations are being considered. Both pyroprobes and inductive heaters are being considered as possible heat sources. Analytical method development is underway, esp. regarding the use of HPLC/MS and GC/MS. Mass spectrometry will be used to identify and quantify the products of the pyrolysis reaction. Graduate student assistance will be used for method development and spectra interpretation. The heating value of the bio-oil and upgraded bio-oil-derived fuels will be measured in a bomb calorimeter using ASTM method D4809. The Parr Instrument Company is being contacted to obtain quotes for an appropriate bomb calorimeter. A techno-economic model is being developed to better understand the costs and benefits associated with bio-oil production. Model development is important for guiding the fundamental research
conducted at the bench scale. An interpretation of experiment results is expected to refine the model structure and alter the model predictions.
Impacts
The processes considered in this project are in the early stages of investigation. A quantifiable outcome has yet to be manifested. Expected outcomes include: 1) a better understanding of the mechanisms that limit the pyrolysis of woody biomass, 2) the identification and quantification of molecules that would add value to the bio-oil production process, 3) the economic viability of stand-alone bio-oil production, integrated thermochemical-biochemical conversion to fuels and chemicals, integrated biochemical-thermochemical conversion to fuels and chemicals, and 4) the potential environmental impact of integrated thermochemical and biochemical refineries.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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