WP 2A: Pyrolysis BiorefineryWP 2A: WP 2A: PyrolysisPyrolysis BiorefineryBiorefinery

Dr. Don J. StevensMay 11, 2005

Some Key DifferencesSome Key DifferencesSome Key Differences

The “Biorefinery” task is only part of the PyNe/IEA collaboration at this pointThe Task Leader (Elliott) does not receive funding for the project

Different than other ThermalNet tasksDepends on voluntary efforts

Today’s PresentationTodayToday’’s Presentations Presentation

Overview of the U.S. Department of Energy’s concept of a “Biorefinery”.Possibilities for pyrolysis in the biorefinery

Department of Energy:Major goal for biomassDepartment of Energy:Department of Energy:Major goal for biomassMajor goal for biomass

Reduce dependence on imported petroleumImproves energy securityProvides environmental benefitsProvides employment and rural development benefits

1301

933

368

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

Million dry tons per year

Total resourcepotential

Agriculturalresources

Forest resources

Annual biomass resource potential:~1.3 billion dry tons

http://feedstockreview.ornl.gov/pdf/billion_ton_vision.pdf

Potential ImpactPotential ImpactPotential Impact

1.3 Billion tons of biomass can:

Potentially provide ~480 billion liters/yr of motor fuelReplace essentially all US transportation fuelsStill have enough left for some chemicals

Current Biomass UseCurrent Biomass UseCurrent Biomass Use

Ethanol~14 billion liters/yearCurrently produced from corn

Biodiesel~ 100 million liters/yearOpportunities for growth due to recent tax legislation

Biopower~ 7 GW installed capacityCapacity is stable, but not growing

Program Goals

2005: Demonstrate an integrated process for fuels production from biomass

2007: Complete technology development necessary to enable start-up demonstration of a biorefinery producing fuels, chemicals, and power

2010: Help U.S. industry to establish the first large-scale integrated biorefinery based on agricultural residues

Develop biorefinery-related technologies to the point that they are cost and performance competitive and are used by the nation’s transportation, energy, chemical, and power industries to meet their market objectives

Strategy: Remove Technical Barriers

LignocellulosicFeedstocks

SugarsLignin

ThermochemicalSyn-Gas

Pyrolyisis Oil

IntegratedBiorefinery

FuelsChemicalsMaterials

Heat & Power

Core technology transferred to the integrated biorefinery forspecific product development

SugarsOils, Lignin

Protein

Existing BiomassIndustry

LignocellulosicFeedstocks

SugarsLignin

ThermochemicalSyn-Gas

Pyrolyisis Oil

IntegratedBiorefinery

FuelsChemicalsMaterials

Heat & Power

Core technology transferred to the integrated biorefinery forspecific product development

SugarsOils, Lignin

Protein

Existing BiomassIndustry

Important to Note:Important to Note:Important to Note:

In both PRESENT and FUTURE biorefineries:

Fuels production provides for large economies of scale

Bio-based products, while smaller in volume, provide greater rates of return and drive profit

The Present View of the Biorefinery

LignocellulosicBiomass

Hydrolysis Fermentation

Ethanol Fuel

Distillation

Products

lignin

sugars

?

The Present View of the Biorefinery

LignocellulosicBiomass

Hydrolysis Fermentation

Mixed Alcohol Synthesis

Gasification

Ethanol Fuel

Distillation

Products

Products(higher alcohols)

lignin

sugars

syngasAdditionalBiomass

Heat, electricity

The Potential Role of PyrolysisThe Potential Role of The Potential Role of PyrolysisPyrolysis

Part of a sugars-based biorefinery

Part of a Petroleum Refinery

Stand-alone facilities

Possible Future Biorefinery

LignocellulosicBiomass

Hydrolysis Fermentation

UpgradingPyrolysis

Ethanol FuelDistillation

Products

Products

lignin

sugars

biocrudeAdditionalBiomass

Motor Fuel

Heat, electricity

Hydrogenation Pathways with Ruthenium Catalyst

Hydrogenation Pathways with Hydrogenation Pathways with Ruthenium CatalystRuthenium Catalyst

OH

OCH3

CH2

OH

propyl guaiacol

propylmethoxycyclohexanoleugenol (propenylguaiacol)

methoxycyclohexanol

cyclohexanol

guaiacol

methyl-guaiacol

methylmethoxycyclohexanolmethylcyclohexanol

cyclohexanediol

methylcyclohexanediol

propylcyclohexanol

propylcyclohexanediol

Cyclohexanol MarketCyclohexanolCyclohexanol MarketMarket

price $0.81-0.83/lb from benzenecost ~$0.35/lb w/25% ROIvolume 852 million lb (1972 est. U.S.)

6,400 million lb world (incl cyclohexanone)1992sales 20 million lb (incl cyclohexanone)1992

(most is used internally for adipic acid)uses adipic acid for nylon, esters for

plasticizers, cyclohexanone for caprolactam, cyclohexylamine for emulsion stabilizer

The Potential Role of PyrolysisThe Potential Role of The Potential Role of PyrolysisPyrolysis

Part of a Petroleum RefineryBiomass first would be converted to biocrude, possibly at distributed locationsBiocrude then co-fed with petroleum through a modified catalytic cracking process, probably with some pretreatmentPNNL and NREL are conducting limited R&D with the petroleum industryThe global petroleum industry is showing more interestFrom the Department of Energy perspective, this is a medium-term approach

Pyrolysis/Petroleum Biorefinery

LignocellulosicBiomass

Petroleum RefineryUpgrading

Pyrolysis

Products

biocrude

Motor Fuel

The Potential Role of PyrolysisThe Potential Role of The Potential Role of PyrolysisPyrolysis

Stand-alone facilitiesSmall size makes economics of fuel production difficultMay be more appropriate for heat and power applicationsUnlikely to gain strong support from DOE because of current focus on transportation fuelsImplementation of the technology possible if commercially viable processes are available

Task Goals for PyNe/IEATask Goals for Task Goals for PyNePyNe/IEA/IEA

Survey biorefinery concepts and determine common interests for a pyrolysis-based “biorefinery”Outline more detailed work plan based on participants interestsDepending on interests, examine ways to address issues of the “biorefinery” in a broader way

Balance technology approaches (include gasification, combustion, bioconversion, etc.How can industry be included?What else is needed?

Additional Pyrolysis R&D NeedsAdditional Additional PyrolysisPyrolysis R&D NeedsR&D Needs

Key value-added processing stepReduces negative aspects of bio-oil

instability corrosivity

Produces valuable chemical products

Major cost center in overall economicsHigh-yield performance at low cost essential for economic feasibility