Integrated hydropyrolysis and hydroconversion (IH²) for the direct production of gasoline and diesel fuels or blending components from biomass, part 1: Proof of principle testing

Abstract

Cellulosic biomass can be directly converted to hydrocarbon transportation fuels through the use of hydropyrolysis or integrated hydropyrolysis plus hydroconversion (IH²). Hydropyrolysis performed in a fast fluidized bed under 14–35 bar of hydrogen pressure with an effective deoxygenation catalyst directly produces a fungible hydrocarbon product with less than 1 total acid number which can either be directly fed to a refinery or polished in an integrated hydroconversion reactor to produce gasoline and diesel with less than 1% oxygen. Experimental data from a 0.45 kg/h semi-continuous IH² pilot plant is presented. Economics and life cycle analysis data will be presented later in this series, and will show that by employing IH² technology, biomass can be converted to gasoline and diesel fuels at delivered costs of less and in some cases significantly less than $1.80/gallon with greater than 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Larger (2.08 kg/h) long-term continuous pilot-scale testing of the IH² process will commence in the near future. As a biomass-to-fuels conversion technology, IH² has the potential to substantially reduce US dependence on foreign oil, thereby reducing the price of transportation fuels and significantly lowering worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. © American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2011