Mixed alcohols-Synopsis: mixed alcohols from biomass steam gasification

01.07.2009 - 30.06.2012
Research funding project
At the moment several pathways to produce transportation fuels from biomass are investigated like Ethanol from lignocelluloses, Fischer Tropsch Diesel or natural gas over methanation. In the past in Europe, contrary to the US, there was almost no research in the area mixed alcohols from synthesis gas. This synthesis has the main advantage, that the gas cleaning is much simpler compared to other synthesis, like Fischer Tropsch, methanation, DME, as the catalyst is resistant against sulphur poisoning. Another advantage is, that the produced mixed alcohols can easily be converted over dehydration and oligomerisation to high quality fuels. All in all, this pathway seems to be a promising method to produce transportation fuels from renewables at low costs. The aim of this project is to investigate the synthesis of mixed alcohols in laboratory scale. For the experimental part a slip stream of product gas from the biomass CHP Güssing is taken after the gas cleaning system. This slip stream will be compressed and used for the experiments. In this project the basics of the mixed alcohol synthesis will be investigated. The optimal catalyst will be defined and tested to find the optimal operating conditions.

People

Project leader

Project personnel

Institute

Grant funds

  • FFG - Österr. Forschungsförderungs- gesellschaft mbH (National) Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)

Research focus

  • Climate Neutral, Renewable and Conventional Energy Supply Systems: 25%
  • Sustainable Production and Technologies: 75%

Keywords

GermanEnglish
Biomassevergasungbiomass gasification
SyntheseSynthesis
gemischte Alkohole mixed alcohols

External partner

  • Repotec - Renewable Power Technologies Umwelttechnik GmbH
  • Biomasse-Kraftwerk Güssing GmbH & C

Publications