High Quality Syngas from the Catalytic Gasification of Biomass Wastes

Completed

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Hydrogen production)
Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(CO2 Capture and Storage, CO2 capture/separation)
Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Production of transport biofuels (incl. Production from wastes))
Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Production of other biomass-derived fuels (incl. Production from wastes))

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)

Not Cross-cutting

Professor P Williams
Energy Resources Research Unit
University of Leeds

Standard

EPSRC

01 January 2012

30 June 2015

42 months

£389,014

Energy

Yorkshire & Humberside

NC : Engineering

Professor P Williams, Energy Resources Research Unit, University of Leeds

Dr V Dupont, Energy Resources Research Unit, University of Leeds

Project Contact, Catal International Ltd
Project Contact, ITI Energy Ltd

The gasification of biomass wastes represents a major thermochemical route to produce a high energy value hydrogen and methane rich syngas from a source which is renewable and CO2-neutral. Coupled with CO2 capture, the process offers a pre-combustion route to carbon capture sequestration for industrial power and electricity production. However, one of the major issues in the gasification process is the production of tar. Tar is a complex mixture of condensable hydrocarbons. The formation of tar causes major process and syngas use problems, including tar blockages, plugging and corrosion in downstream fuel lines, filters, engine nozzles and turbines.This proposal seeks to develop advanced triple function nano-nickel catalysts for, tar removal, enhanced hydrogen/methane production and CO2 capture and thereby produce high yield, clean, high calorific value syngas from the gasification of biomass/waste. Novel catalysts with homogeneous, well dispersed nano-Ni particles on a high-surface functional structured support, will be produced and examined in relation to the process conditions of gasification of biomass wastes for syngas quality in a continuous operation. The mechanisms of tar reactions, catalyst coke formation and sintering will be developed throughout the programme enabling catalysts to be designed to maximise and predict syngas quality from the process of biomass/waste gasification.The project benefits from the collaboration of a gasification system manufacturer and a catalysts development company who will aid the scale up of the catalyst preparation and trials in full scale gasification systems

30/01/12