(70e) Production of Synthesis Gas by Biomass Gasification

An important element of a sustainable chemical industry is the use of renewable feedstocks for both its processes and its boilers and furnaces. Woody biomass has the characteristics and availability of such a feedstock. Combustion of this feedstock is an established method for its utilization directly in industrial boilers and furnaces, but several difficulties devalue this method for the chemical sector. Gasification of woody biomass resolves some of these difficulties for boilers and furnaces and also provides an intermediate feedstock, synthesis gas, for chemical processes. As both a fuel and a chemical feedstock, synthesis gas can be provided as a sufficiently clean gaseous fuel for standard boilers and furnaces and as an ultra-clean (tar-, sulfur- and nitrogen-free) gas for combustion turbines and chemical processes. Gasifiers of woody biomass for standard boilers and furnaces are commercially available, but ones for combustion turbines and chemical processes are largely still under development or in demonstration. This tutorial will review the availability and state of development of woody biomass gasifiers. It is based on a 40-minute presentation given to Lyondell R&D in Fall 2006 that surveyed the results of two extensive reviews prepared by the author for commercial clients.