(75b) Biomass Conversion Technologies for Liquid and Gaseous Fuels, Chemicals and Materials

The Thermochemical Process Development Unit (TCPDU) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory is used to demonstrate biomass to fuels technologies at an industrially relevant scale. The pilot plant can be configured to operate in multiple pathways including gasification and pyrolysis. Pyrolysis operations are conducted under oxygen-deficient environments and generate biochar as a byproduct. The biochar created under these conditions will self-heat and smolder when exposed to oxygen. This attribute can cause post handling of the char difficult and poses a potential safety hazard. In order to render the char stable for transport and use in secondary industries such as boiler fuel or soil enhancements, the char must be passivated. A unique passivation system was designed, implemented, and tested in the TCPDU using low percentage of oxygen to successfully yield a stable biochar.