Research Topic 3 Biomass Conversion Pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of biomass in the absence of oxygen or in amounts of oxygen significantly less than required for complete combustion Gasification is the chemical reaction of biomass to syngas with careful control of the amount of oxygen

Applications and New Concepts Bioethanol Reforming Exploits advances in bioethanol production Allows CO 2 -neutral production of hydrogen C 2 H 5 OH + 3H 2 O 6 H CO 2  H o 298 = kJ/mol

Pyrolysis Products Solid Biomass Gases (10-20%) (Mainly CO, CO 2, CH 4, H 2, H 2 O) Char (10-20%) (Solid carbonaceous residue) Tar (Bio-oil) (60-75%) (High molecular weight liquids, volatile at reaction temperature)

Reaction Scheme Biomass Rapid heating (1000 K s -1 ) Rapid cooling o C Gas Bio-oil Char Primary degradation to form char and gases Secondary reactions, polymerization, cracking Chemical Processes Heat transfer by conduction, convection and radiation Pressure gradients inside the degrading solid Surface regression, crack formation, swelling, shrinkage Physical Processes Char Gas + Bio-oil

Conventional Pyrolysis 1 Fluidized-bed gasifier 2 Cyclone 3 Ceramic candle filter 4 Biomass feeder 5 Water and tar condensation system 6 Blower 7 Volumetric gas-meter

Catalytic Processing of Pyrolysis Oil Hydrodeoxygenation (Conventional CoMoS/Al 2 O 3, NiMoS/Al 2 O 3 ) (New: Ni 2 P, WP, VN, Mo 2 C) Reforming (Ni/Al 2 O 3, Rh/Al 2 O 3, Ni 2 P, Mo 2 C) Hydrocracking (USY, SiO 2 -Al 2 O 3, ZSM-5, Pt/Al 2 O 3, ) Other possibilities Wide-pore zeolites, mesoporous solids

Project Concepts New reactor design for combined pyrolysis/catalysis Recycle of gases for fluidization and reaction