11 From Syngas to fuels and chemicals: Chemical and biotechnological routes

2021 ◽  
pp. 345-368
Author(s):  
Marco Ricci ◽  
Daniele Bianchi ◽  
Carlo Perego
Keyword(s):  
Fuels And Chemicals

In Situ Observation of Catalyzed Gasification of Graphite by Nickel

1981 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 76-77
Author(s):  
R. T. K. Baker ◽  
R. D. Sherwood
Keyword(s):  
Objective Lens ◽  
In Situ Observation ◽  
Gas Flows ◽  
Catalytic Gasification ◽  
Television Camera ◽  
Viewing Screen ◽  
Fuels And Chemicals ◽  
Gasification Of Carbon ◽  
Transmission Microscope

The catalytic gasification of carbon at high temperature by microscopic size metal particles is of fundamental importance to removal of coke deposits and conversion of refractory hydrocarbons into fuels and chemicals. The reaction of metal/carbon/gas systems can be observed by controlled atmosphere electron microscopy (CAEM) in an 100 KV conventional transmission microscope. In the JEOL gas reaction stage model AGl (Fig. 1) the specimen is positioned over a hole, 200μm diameter, in a platinum heater strip, and is interposed between two apertures, 75μm diameter. The control gas flows across the specimen and exits through these apertures into the specimen chamber. The gas is further confined by two apertures, one in the condenser and one in the objective lens pole pieces, and removed by an auxiliary vacuum pump. The reaction zone is <1 mm thick and is maintained at gas pressure up to 400 Torr and temperature up to 1300<C as measured by a Pt-Pt/Rh 13% thermocouple. Reaction events are observed and recorded on videotape by using a Philips phosphor-television camera located below a hole in the center of the viewing screen. The overall resolution is greater than 2.5 nm.

scholarly journals Production of Fuels and Chemicals from a CO2/H2 Mixture

Reactions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-146
Author(s):  
Yali Yao ◽  
Baraka Celestin Sempuga ◽  
Xinying Liu ◽  
Diane Hildebrandt
Keyword(s):  
Co2 Hydrogenation ◽  
Water Gas Shift ◽  
Liquid Fuels ◽  
Saturated Hydrocarbons ◽  
Reverse Water Gas Shift ◽  
Cu Catalyst ◽  
In Series ◽  
Fuels And Chemicals ◽  
Water Gas ◽  
Aspen Simulation

In order to explore co-production alternatives, a once-through process for CO2 hydrogenation to chemicals and liquid fuels was investigated experimentally. In this approach, two different catalysts were considered; the first was a Cu-based catalyst that hydrogenates CO2 to methanol and CO and the second a Fisher–Tropsch (FT) Co-based catalyst. The two catalysts were loaded into different reactors and were initially operated separately. The experimental results show that: (1) the Cu catalyst was very active in both the methanol synthesis and reverse-water gas shift (R-WGS) reactions and these two reactions were restricted by thermodynamic equilibrium; this was also supported by an Aspen plus simulation of an (equilibrium) Gibbs reactor. The Aspen simulation results also indicated that the reactor can be operated adiabatically under certain conditions, given that the methanol reaction is exothermic and R-WGS is endothermic. (2) the FT catalyst produced mainly CH4 and short chain saturated hydrocarbons when the feed was CO2/H2. When the two reactors were coupled in series and the presence of CO in the tail gas from the first reactor (loaded with Cu catalyst) significantly improves the FT product selectivity toward higher carbon hydrocarbons in the second reactor compared to the standalone FT reactor with only CO2/H2 in the feed.

scholarly journals Further engineering of R. toruloides for the production of terpenes from lignocellulosic biomass

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
James Kirby ◽  
Gina M. Geiselman ◽  
Junko Yaegashi ◽  
Joonhoon Kim ◽  
Xun Zhuang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lignocellulosic Biomass ◽  
Copy Number ◽  
Mevalonate Pathway ◽  
Mevalonate Kinase ◽  
Metabolite Analysis ◽  
Lignocellulosic Hydrolysate ◽  
Microbial Conversion ◽  
Lignocellulosic Hydrolysates ◽  
Lignocellulosic Feedstocks ◽  
Fuels And Chemicals

Abstract Background Mitigation of climate change requires that new routes for the production of fuels and chemicals be as oil-independent as possible. The microbial conversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks into terpene-based biofuels and bioproducts represents one such route. This work builds upon previous demonstrations that the single-celled carotenogenic basidiomycete, Rhodosporidium toruloides, is a promising host for the production of terpenes from lignocellulosic hydrolysates. Results This study focuses on the optimization of production of the monoterpene 1,8-cineole and the sesquiterpene α-bisabolene in R. toruloides. The α-bisabolene titer attained in R. toruloides was found to be proportional to the copy number of the bisabolene synthase (BIS) expression cassette, which in turn influenced the expression level of several native mevalonate pathway genes. The addition of more copies of BIS under a stronger promoter resulted in production of α-bisabolene at 2.2 g/L from lignocellulosic hydrolysate in a 2-L fermenter. Production of 1,8-cineole was found to be limited by availability of the precursor geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) and expression of an appropriate GPP synthase increased the monoterpene titer fourfold to 143 mg/L at bench scale. Targeted mevalonate pathway metabolite analysis suggested that 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGR), mevalonate kinase (MK) and phosphomevalonate kinase (PMK) may be pathway bottlenecks are were therefore selected as targets for overexpression. Expression of HMGR, MK, and PMK orthologs and growth in an optimized lignocellulosic hydrolysate medium increased the 1,8-cineole titer an additional tenfold to 1.4 g/L. Expression of the same mevalonate pathway genes did not have as large an impact on α-bisabolene production, although the final titer was higher at 2.6 g/L. Furthermore, mevalonate pathway intermediates accumulated in the mevalonate-engineered strains, suggesting room for further improvement. Conclusions This work brings R. toruloides closer to being able to make industrially relevant quantities of terpene from lignocellulosic biomass.

Effect of pyrolysis temperature on volatile products from hazelnut shells: products characteristics and antioxidant activity assessment of liquid products

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-391
Author(s):  
Chenxi Zhao ◽  
Yupeng Xing ◽  
Wei Lv ◽  
Juhui Chen ◽  
Xiaogang Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Composition Analysis ◽  
Maximum Output ◽  
Activity Assessment ◽  
Volatile Products ◽  
Liquid Products ◽  
Fuels And Chemicals ◽  
Gas Products ◽  
Combustible Gases ◽  
Hazelnut Shells

Abstract It is being considered to pyrolyze lignin-rich biomass samples (hazelnut shells, HSs) into bio-fuels and chemicals to solve energy shortages and environmental concerns, volatile products (including liquid products and gas products) were produced and characterized from HSs pyrolysis at 400–1000 °C. With the temperature increases, the maximum output of liquid products was up to 35.79% produced at 700 °C, gas products yields increased from 21.82 to 55.46%. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC–MS) study indicated that liquid products from HSs riched in phenolic compounds, exceed 42% of liquid products and increased as the temperature rises. The application experiment showed that HSs liquid products had a significant role in antioxidant activity, and revealed that not limited to phenols, all compounds containing phenolic hydroxyl structure act as antioxidant. Composition analysis of gas products showed that more combustible gases were produced at the higher temperature, resulted in the significant increase in gas products higher heating value (HHV) from 6.21 to 24.36 MJ/kg.

scholarly journals Decomposition of Rice Chaff Using a Cocultivation System of Thermobifida fusca and Ureibacillus thermosphaericus

Proceedings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Sachiko Nakamura ◽  
Norio Kurosawa
Keyword(s):  
Lignin Peroxidase ◽  
Culture Medium ◽  
Reducing Sugars ◽  
Thermophilic Bacteria ◽  
Thermobifida Fusca ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Basal Salt Medium ◽  
Moderately Thermophilic ◽  
Fuels And Chemicals ◽  
Ureibacillus Thermosphaericus

Lignocellulosic biomass comprises cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin and is a potential source of fuels and chemicals. Although this complex biomass is persistent, it can be cooperatively decomposed by a microbial consortium in nature. In this study, a coculture of the moderately thermophilic bacteria Thermobifida fusca and Ureibacillus thermosphaericus was used for biodegradation of rice chaff. The bacterial strains were incubated in modified Brock’s basal salt medium (pH 8.0) supplemented with yeast extract and rice chaff at 50 °C for 7 days. The concentration of reducing sugars and the enzymatic activities of laccase, lignin peroxidase, cellulase, and xylanase in the supernatant of the culture medium were measured every day. The concentrations of reducing sugars in solo cultures of T. fusca and U. thermosphaericus and a mixed culture of the two strains after 7 days of incubation were 0.047, 0.040, and 0.195 mg/mL, respectively, indicating that the decomposition of rice chaff was enhanced in the coculture. Based on the results, it is thought that the lignin surrounding the cellulose was decomposed by laccase and lignin peroxidase secreted from U. thermosphaericus, resulting in cellulose and hemicellulose in the rice chaff being easily decomposed by enzymes from T. fusca.

scholarly journals Status and prospects of the decentralised valorisation of natural gas into energy and energy carriers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guido Zichittella ◽  
Javier Pérez-Ramírez
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Catalyst Design ◽  
Liquefied Natural Gas ◽  
Energy Carriers ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Fuels And Chemicals

We critically review the recent advances in process, reactor, and catalyst design that enable process miniaturisation for decentralised natural gas upgrading into electricity, liquefied natural gas, fuels and chemicals.

scholarly journals Assessing the Conversion of Various Nylon Polymers in the Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Macroalgae

Environments ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Sukanya Hongthong ◽  
Hannah S. Leese ◽  
Michael J. Allen ◽  
Christopher J. Chuck
Keyword(s):  
Nylon 6 ◽  
Hydrothermal Liquefaction ◽  
Marine Macroalgae ◽  
Fishing Gear ◽  
Third Generation ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Fucus Serratus ◽  
Nylon 12 ◽  
Fuels And Chemicals ◽  
Real Challenge

Marine macroalgae offers a promising third generation feedstock for the production of fuels and chemicals, avoiding competition with conventional agriculture and potentially helping to improve eutrophication in seas and oceans. However, an increasing amount of plastic is distributed into the oceans, and as such contaminating macroalgal beds. One of the major plastic contaminants is nylon 6 derived from discarded fishing gear, though an increasing amount of alternative nylon polymers, derived from fabrics, are also observed. This study aimed to assess the effect of these nylon contaminants on the hydrothermal liquefaction of Fucus serratus. The hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of macroalgae was undertaken at 350 °C for 10 min, with a range of nylon polymers (nylon 6, nylon 6/6, nylon 12 and nylon 6/12), in the blend of 5, 20 and 50 wt.% nylon to biomass; 17 wt.% biocrude was achieved from a 50% blend of nylon 6 with F. serratus. In addition, nylon 6 completely broke down in the system producing the monomer caprolactam. The suitability of converting fishing gear was further demonstrated by conversion of actual fishing line (nylon 6) with the macroalgae, producing an array of products. The alternative nylon polymer blends were less reactive, with only 54% of the nylon 6/6 breaking down under the HTL conditions, forming cyclopentanone which distributed into the biocrude phase. Nylon 6/12 and nylon 12 were even less reactive, and only traces of the monomer cyclododecanone were observed in the biocrude phase. This study demonstrates that while nylon 6 derived from fishing gear can be effectively integrated into a macroalgal biorefinery, alternative nylon polymers from other sectors are too stable to be converted under these conditions and present a real challenge to a macroalgal biorefinery.

Experimental Parameter Study on Synthesis Gas Production by Steam-Oxygen Fluidized Bed Gasification of Sewage Sludge

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 579
Author(s):  
Max Schmid ◽  
Selina Hafner ◽  
Günter Scheffknecht
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Fluidized Bed ◽  
Experimental Parameter ◽  
Space Velocity ◽  
Phosphate Fertilizer ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Parameter Study ◽  
Syngas Production ◽  
Fuels And Chemicals

The conversion of biogenic residues to fuels and chemicals via gasification and synthesis processes is a promising pathway to replace fossil carbon. In this study, the focus is set on sewage sludge gasification for syngas production. Experiments were carried out in a 20 kW fuel input bubbling fluidized bed facility with steam and oxygen as gasification agent. In-situ produced sewage sludge ash was used as bed material. The sensitivity of the key operation parameters gasifier temperature, oxygen ratio, steam to carbon ratio, and the space velocity on the syngas composition (H2, CO, CO2, CH4, CxHy, H2S, COS, NH3, and tars) was determined. The results show that the produced syngas has high H2 and CO concentrations of up to 0.37 m3 m−3 and 0.18 m3 m−3, respectively, and is thus suitable for synthesis of fuels and chemicals. By adjusting the steam to carbon ratio, the syngas’ H2 to CO ratio can be purposely tailored by the water gas shift reaction for various synthesis products, e.g., synthetic natural gas (H2/CO = 3) or Fischer–Tropsch products (H2/CO = 2). Also, the composition and yields of fly ash and bed ash are presented. Through the gasification process, the cadmium and mercury contents of the bed ash were drastically reduced. The ash is suitable as secondary raw material for phosphorous or phosphate fertilizer production. Overall, a broad database was generated that can be used for process simulation and process design.

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