2.

Technical Description:

In the above flow diagram, a process of utilizing the 60,000 MTons of SMS and Switch
grass which are used as feedstock for the production of liquid transport fuels is explained.

Biomass is converted into biofuel by two processes; Thermochemical and Biochemical process.

Anaerobic digestion: (Mesophilic)

Main component in the raw substrate is water; as the biomass contains moisture
content in excess, anaerobic digestion is preferred in such conditions but the residence time is usually
15-40 days. The Digester gas- methane can be as high as 70% more commonly 60%; carbon dioxide at
30% (40%) with trace elements of hydrogen sulfide, water vapor, etc. There are various factors that
influence the breakdown of compounds namely, temperature, retention time, mixing.

1. The feedstock is pretreated before entering the digester. The pretreatment involves non-
biodegradable materials providing uniform particle size for efficient digestion. The one optimum
for our feedstock would be mesophilic type of digestion which is maintained at 35 degrees
centigrade. It is usually more robust than the thermophilic process.
2. Decomposition of the volatile suspended solids is around 60% over a retention time of 15 to 40
days at a temperature of 30 to 40oC, which requires larger digestion tanks.
3. The outflows of the digesters are in two forms; the biogas and the liquor mixture, known as
digestate. For calculation purpose, it is assumed that the entire biomass is converted to biogas.

CH1.6O1.05 + y H2O  a CH4 + b CO2 (for SMS)

x CH1.46O0.67 + y H2O  a CH4 + b CO2(for Switch grass)

The biogas coming out of digester contains CH4 and CO2. The methane produced from the digester is
made free of CO2 using scrubbing technique.

The best physical method of scrubbing for CO2 removal is water absorption which is also easy and
economical. The process works because these gases are more soluble in water than methane. In this
model, the biogas is pressurized and fed to the bottom of a packed column. Water is fed in from the top
and exits the column with absorbed carbon dioxide. The fluid is regenerated by stripping or de-
pressurizing with air.
Now, according to the process flow diagram, next step is steam reforming. The optimum temperature and
pressure for steam reforming are 1100 k and 20atm (high temperature and high pressure).The CH4
separated from CO2 is used to produce syngas using H2O.Water is added if necessary in the form of
steam.

CH4 +H2O  CO + 3H2

Firstly, the CO to H2 ratio is adjusted accordingly and additional H2 is added if necessary for methanol
synthesis.
Biomass Gasification Reaction:

In thermochemical process, first Biomass is made free of moisture and sent

to gasifier along with air and heat at 700 degrees centigrade to get producer gas.

x CH1.6O1.05 + y O2  a CO + b CO2 +c H2 +d CH4 +e C2H4 + f H2O + g C(For SMS)

x CH1.46O0.67 + y O2  a CO + b CO2 +c H2 +d CH4 +e C2H4 + f H2O + g C (For Switch grass)

. The producer gas (sometime called ‘wood gas’) from the gasifier contains carbon monoxide, hydrogen
and methane all of which can be burned to release heat, as well as nitrogen and carbon dioxide, which
are inert. The producer gas stream composition in general is: CO: 32%, CO2: 28%, H2: 27%, CH4: 9.5%,
C2H4: 4% in mole basis. The producer gas leaves at a temperature of over 600°C, and contains fine
particles of char and ash.

The producer gas produced in gasifier is cleaned and made free of CO2 and N2 in gas conditioning
system. Scrubber and separation unit are used to produce CO and H2 mixture and remove CO2 and N2.
Steam reforming converts CH4 and C2H4 into H2 and CO2 by reactions with steam. This is an
endothermic reaction. Water is added in the form of steam for the reaction to take place. This reaction
usually takes place at high temperature around 800 degrees and in the presence of nickel (metal based
catalyst)

CH4 + 2H2O  CO2 + 4 H2 (for both SMS and switch grass)

C2H4 + 4 H2O  2CO2 + 6 H2

Methanol Synthesis: In methanol synthesis, CO and H2 are reacted in the presence of a catalyst to
produce methanol. This is an exothermic reaction. The pressure is maintained at 50atm and T between
200-300 degrees centigrade. The catalyst used here are Cu/ZnO. These catalysts are proved industrially
to give high performance in methanol synthesis.

CO + 2H2  CH3OH (For both SMS and Switch grass)

This is a reversible reaction and hence appropriate pressure and temperature should be maintained for
production of methanol.

FT process:

The Fischer–Tropsch process is a collection of chemical reactions that converts a mixture

of carbon monoxide and hydrogen into liquid hydrocarbons. Here, our aim is to convert CO and H2
mixture into gasoline.

CO + 1.08 H2  0.08 C8H18 + 0.33 H2O +0.33 CO2

Generally, the Fischer–Tropsch process is operated in the temperature range of 150–300 °C (302–
572 °F). Higher temperatures lead to faster reactions and higher conversion rates but also tend to favor
methane production. For this reason, the temperature is usually maintained at the low to middle part of
the range. Cobolt/Iron based catalysts are used as this promotes water gas shift reaction to produce
more H2 [if we need H2 in excess that is when H2: CO ratio is less (<1)].
Efficient removal of heat from the reactor is the basic need of the Fischer-Tropsch reactors since these
reactions are characterized as highly exothermic.