Bench Scale Studies on Catalytic Gasification of Biomass

摘要

Results of bench scale studies on development of catalysts for conversion of biomass to specific gas products are described in this report. The primary objective of these studies was to define operating conditions that give a long catalyst lifetime when used in biomass gasification. Nickel based catalysts that were found to be active for conversion of wood to synthesis gases in previous studies were evaluated. These catalysts remained active indefinitely in laboratory studies but lost activity rapidly when evaluated in a process research unit (PRU). Bench scale equipment was designed and installed to allow resolution of differences in laboratory and PRU results. Three different process configurations for testing secondary catalysts were evaluated: (1) catalyst mixed with the fluid-bed material in the gasifier; (2) catalyst in a separate fixed-bed reactor where it contacted products from the gasifier; and (3) a configuration similar to (2) where the separate reactor was operated as a fluid bed. In the separate fluid-bed reactor NiCuMo on silica-alumina and Ni on alpha -alumina remained active throughout testing for generation of synthesis gas from wood at 750 deg C similar to previous results obtained in the laboratory. Deactivattion of these same catalysts occurred within 10 hours when used in configuration 1 similar to results obtained previously in the PRU. Using configuration 2 these catalysts remained active for only 20 to 40 hours. 5 refs., 8 figs., 7 tabs. (ERA citation 11:005024)