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In this work three different ways to produce 1 MWe from biomass gasification syngas are presented. The studied pathways considered the biomass gasification in order to produce syngas able to be transformed into liquid fuels through (i) fermentation and (ii) Fischer Tropsch (FT) synthesis. Later, both liquid fuels were assumed to be powered in a spark ignition engine and in a compression ignition engine, respectively. The third pathway is (iii) the direct use of syngas in a gas-fired reciprocating engine. Syngas composition was predicted from three residual lignocellulosic biomasses (rice husk, sugarcane bagasse and coffee husk) using a stoichiometric equilibrium model. It was found that the direct use of syngas (LHV ~6.72 MJ/Nm 3) needs less biomass (~800 kg/h) to achieve 1 MWe in comparison with the other two pathways. Diesel fuel from FT and ethanol from the fermentation process require around 1500 kg/h and 2500 kg/h of biomass respectively to achieve the same power. The FT synthesis considered the production of a synthetic liquid fuel similar to diesel fuel in terms of heating value (LHV ~44 MJ/kg), while syngas fermentation took into account the ethanol production (LHV ~27 MJ/kg). The above results, for the three different fuels, were assessed considering the thermal efficiencies of each specific internal combustion engine.

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This report summarizes the progress and research accomplishments of the SERI Biomass Program during FY 1983. The SERI Biomass Program consists of three elements: Aquatic Species, Anaerobic Digestion, and Photo/ Biological Hydrogen. The program is funded through the Biomass Energy Technology Division of the Department of Energy (Beverly J. Berger, Director). SERI has adopted several strategies to ensure that the data developed by the Biomass Program is transferred to other researchers and to the private sector. Involvement of industry in the early stages of research and development will help direct the program toward the development of operational systems as well as promote the transfer of the technical data base to private industry. Publication of data in peer-reviewed journals, in SERI publications, and proceedings of regular contractor review meetings will make SERI-sponsored research available to the scientific community in the public and private sectors.

Most chemicals manufactured in the United States fifty years ago were made from lignocellulosic (e.g., biomass) materials. Then, the advent of cheap petroleum encouraged technological developments in chemical production. New feedstocks, processes, and products replaced biomass as the major chemical building block. However, recent increases in petroleum and natural-gas prices justify a reexamination of lignocellulosic materials as potential chemical feedstocks. This report represents a first step in evaluating biomass as a potential substitute in petrochemical feedstock markets • Goldstein 0979; 1980) has identified three possible mechanisms for biomass substitution in petrochemical markets. The first of these alternatives involves the direct use of natural polymers and fibers rather than synthetic varieties. The second method of substitution involves the use of alternative feedstocks to produce the identical chemicals for their current final uses. The third method involves development of natural products to replace some of the intermediate products currently used in petrochemical markets • Intermediate products do not necessarily have to be identical to their potential substitutes. In addition, once the competitiveness of the intermediate product is determined, the relative competitiveness of its derivatives with petroleum products can also be ascertained • Goldstein has also noted that "there is no technical barrier to the production of almost all petrochemicals, whether oxygenated aliphatics, aromatics, hydrocarbons, or chlorinated compounds, from biomass" (1980, p. 26). Given the technical feasibility of deriving most chemicals from biomass, the focus of petrochemical studies at the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) has been to identify high potential markets for biomass chemicals given current (albeit ancient for the chemical industry-50 years or more in some cases) technology and average prices for petroleum and natural gas feedstocks • Even if all petrochemicals were obtained from biomass, the total reduction in U.S. energy would be small. Petrochemicals are much more important than their aggregate Btu content suggests, because: