Flash Methanolysis - the Flash Pyrolysis of Biomass with Methane Gas

摘要

The objective of this program is to provide a process chemistry data base for the conversion of biomass to liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon fuels and chemical feedstocks by a flash rapid pyrolysis technique. Because of a potentially attractive process application, the program has concentrated on the flash methanolysis of wood using methane as the pyrolysis gas. A 1-in. I.D. entrained downflow tubular reactor is used in these experiments. The product yields consists of ethylene, ethane, BTX (mainly benzene) and carbon monoxide. For pine wood at 1000 deg C and 50 psi, the yields of ethylene is 8 times higher with methane gas than with helium. The ethylene and benzene yield increases with methane to wood mass flowrate ratio and reaches a saturation value. The ethylene and benzene yields reach over 50% based on wood carbon conversion and the CO yield reaches over 40% at high methane-to-wood ratios. The mechanism of formation of ethylene appears to be an interaction between a free radical derived from the wood and methane gas. Additional yield data are needed for hardwoods. A process design and evaluation study to determine the economic incentive is needed for converting wood to the commodity fuels and chemicals; ethylene, benzene, and methanol by the flash methanolysis process. 2 refs., 5 figs., 4 tabs. (ERA citation 11:015807)