Production of Synthetic Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass - Biomass Gasification, Pyrolysis and Torrefaction - page 375

Chapter 11
Production of Synthetic Fuels
and Chemicals from Biomass
11.1 INTRODUCTION
Earlier chapters discussed the methods of converting biomass into convenient
forms of gases, liquid, and solid products and their use in energy production.
Besides energy production, such conversion processes have important appli-
cations in the production of chemicals and transport fuels. It is interesting to
note that many of our daily necessities like plastic, resin, and fertilizer can
potentially come from biomass.
Charcoal, a product of biomass carbonization, is not only a fuel but it is
also an important reducing and adsorbing agent. Similarly, syngas, a mixture
of H 2 and CO, is a fuel as well as a basic building block for many hydrocar-
bon chemicals. Transport fuel and a large number of chemicals are produced
from different syntheses of CO and H 2 . These products can be divided into
three broad groups: (1) energy source (e.g., methane, carbon monoxide, and
torrefied wood), (2) transportation fuels (e.g., biodiesel and biogas), and
(3) chemical feedstock (e.g., methanol, ammonia, and charcoal).
Presently, syngas is produced not only from natural gas but also from any
of the following feedstock:
Biomass
Solid fossil fuels (e.g., coal and petcoke)
Liquid fuels (e.g., refinery wastes).
Interest in biomass as a chemical feedstock is rising given that it is
renewable and carbon-neutral. There is a growing shift toward “green chemi-
cals” and “green fuels,” which are derived from carbon-neutral biomass.
With the development of the chemical industry and new legislation concern-
ing environment, the application of charcoal for purification of industrial
wastes has increased markedly (FAO, 1985). Gasification and pyrolysis are
effective and powerful ways to convert the biomass (or another fuel) into
energy, chemicals, and transport fuels. Carbonization and torrefaction are
important means of converting biomass into an effective adsorbent and
reducing agent. This chapter discusses different ways to convert biomass-
derived syngas into such useful products.