Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Biocrude production”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

75 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Model quantification of the effect of coproducts and refinery co-hydrotreating on the economics and greenhouse gas emissions of a conceptual biomass catalytic fast pyrolysis process

Here we present model results for a scaled-up conceptual process informed by bench scale biomass catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) and hydrotreating experimental data. This process uses a Pt/TiO 2 catalyst during CFP, which produces a partially deoxygenated organic biocrude intermediate that is then hydroprocessed to a hydrocarbon fuel blendstock; the catalyst also enables high yields of acetone and methyl-ethyl-ketone (MEK) coproducts. Two options for hydroprocessing were modeled: (A) co-hydrotreating at a petroleum refinery using hydrogen sourced from steam reforming of natural gas and (B) standalone hydrotreating at a biorefinery using hydrogen sourced from CFP off gases. The results revealed that Case A was economically advantageous with a modeled minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) of $\$$2.83/GGE or gallon gasoline equivalent (in 2016 US dollars), while the additional cost of standalone hydrotreating facilities in Case B increased the MFSP to $3.13/GGE. Conversely, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were lower for Case B (3.9 g CO 2 e/MJ) compared to Case A (21.5 g CO 2 e/MJ) due to the use of biogenic (Case B) and fossil-derived (Case A) hydrogen. In a third option (Case C), the requirements for separation and purification of acetone and MEK were removed from the refinery co-processing scenario (Case A) to evaluate the impacts of this process simplification. Elimination of these coproducts increased the MFSP to $3.21/GGE and GHG emissions to 35 g CO 2 e/MJ. These comparisons based on our detailed conceptual models provide economic and sustainability guidance regarding processing choices for future biorefineries. While refinery coprocessing using existing equipment and the production of relatively valuable coproducts can benefit the economics, the hydrogen-source and biogenic coproducts can have significant impacts on the sustainability of the process, and feasibility to use CFP off-gases or other renewable sources for hydrogen production can help lower GHG emissions.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Bioprocessing Separations Consortium: Three-Year Overview - Technical Advances, Process Economics Influence, and State of the Science

The Bioprocessing Separations Consortium solves separations challenges that are unique to bioprocessing. To do this, the Consortium uses two methods: applying existing technologies to new challenges and developing new technologies that may address these unique challenges better than today’s commercial technologies. In its research and development, the Consortium leverages its three core capabilities: materials development and evaluation, process development, and analysis and computation. In its first three years, from 2016 to 2019, the Consortium addressed four critical challenges in biochemical and thermochemical processing. First, the Consortium targeted the fractionation of lignin to enable valorization of this portion of biomass that offers diverse, complex, and valuable building blocks and products. Second, Consortium researchers developed technologies to enable process intensification, which can reduce equipment needs, energy consumption, and waste generation, thereby cutting bioprocessing capital costs and rendering processes more efficient. Third, the Consortium sought to recover carbon from dilute aqueous streams that are common to bioprocessing; recovering dilute carbon can improve process efficiency and economics. Finally, Consortium researchers designed and developed new materials and catalysts to reduce targeted foulants and poisons in bioprocessing streams that can limit the lifetime of downstream catalysts or fermenting microorganisms. Table 1 lists the technologies that were examined and places them in the context of the Consortium’s capabilities, types of bioprocesses, and critical challenges in bioprocessing separations. Overall, across these projects, we have developed separations technologies for 10 bioprocesses, addressed 9 target compounds in bioprocessing, developed 10 materials, and evaluated 4 processes for cost and sustainability.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Reducing Coke and Increasing Bio-Oil Yield during Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis of Biomass Using Phosphorus-Modified Zeolite Catalysts

Catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) is a promising strategy for producing hydrocarbon transportation fuels from biomass feedstocks. However, catalyst development is needed to increase bio-oil yields and enhance process economics. In this work, we demonstrate how post synthetic modification of formed ZSM-5 with phosphorus shifts CFP selectivity from coke and light gases toward the desired bio-oil product. Microscale experiments demonstrated reduced coke production relative to unmodified ZSM-5 and identified an optimal P loading. Extensive catalyst characterization revealed that P interacted with Al sites to reduce the acid site density, with preferential binding to the strongest acid sites. Insights from the microscale experiments were leveraged to produce kilogram quantities of formed P-ZSM-5 for evaluation in a larger semi-integrated process. These experiments generated liters of bio-oil that was hydrotreated and fractionated into gasoline, diesel, and jet cuts. The phosphorus-modified ZSM-5 improved CFP bio-oil yield, resulting in an 11% relative increase in the carbon yield from biomass to aviation fuel and a 14% decrease in the minimum fuel selling price. These results highlight the impact targeted changes in catalyst acidity, achieved by adding 2.5 wt % P, can have on the carbon efficiency and feasibility of fuel production from biomass feedstocks.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗