(481e) Review and Analysis of Transportation Fuel Production From Biomass-Derived Syngas

Thermochemical conversion of biomass to synthesis gas (syngas), followed by catalytic conversion of syngas to hydrocarbons is one potential avenue for producing renewable liquid transportation fuels. The Biomass Program at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has performed techno-economic analyses for producing clean syngas and converting the syngas to mixed alcohols. However, the syngas can be catalytically converted to other hydrocarbons with higher energy density and potentially better infrastructure compatibility.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Chemical Engineering Practice recently worked with NREL to compile and compare a list of liquid transportation fuels that can be produced from syngas. The fuels are compared and ranked according to criteria such as energy density, infrastructure compatibility, technology maturity, and environmental impact. An initial screening process reduced an extensive list to the four most promising options, which were selected for further evaluation. A literature review and techno-economic analysis was thus performed for each of these four options.

The resulting scoping analysis includes mass and energy balances for each process as well as economic evaluation using assumptions and cost data consistent with previous NREL techno-economic analyses on biomass to mixed alcohols processes. Yields and costs for each process are estimated and compared. Additional results of the project are identification of critical knowledge gaps and recommendations for future research and development.