H2CAP-Hydrogen assisted catalytic biomass pyrolysis for green fuels

In order to be independent of fossil fuels it is vital to convert biomass to liquid fuels which can be integrated in the current transportation infrastructure. Biomass can be converted to bio-oil, along with char and gas, by flash heating (pyrolysis) to 400 to 500 °C in oxygen free atmosphere. The properties of this bio-oil are very different from crude oil, since it is made of oxygen containing hydrocarbons and contains large amount of water, thus it requires upgrading. The aim of this project is to develop an integrated process of high-pressure pyrolysis of biomass with catalytic hydrotreating before condensation of the liquid product. This bio-oil will be a mixture of diesel and gasoline fuels. The process utilizes non-food, second generation biomass like straw and wood; hydrogen produced by electrolysis using sustainable sources like wind and solar energy and it is expected to have a higher energy recovery compared to bio-ethanol production. Lab-scale process equipment for continuous, pressurized pyrolysis will be constructed in order to demonstrate and optimize the process and develop suitable catalysts. The produced oil will be extensively characterized for composition, viscosity, energy density and miscibility with fossil fuels in order to evaluate its fuel properties. The project is a consortium of leading research experts in Denmark (DTU), Germany (KIT) and USA (Stanford) and the company Haldor Topsøe A/S.