Performance of Structural Alloys in Bio-oil Production, Upgrading, and Storage Systems

Abstract

Selection of corrosion-resistant, cost-effective structural materials for the process and containment vessels required for the production, upgrading, and storage of biomass-derived oils has been the subject of study in our laboratory for many years. The wide variety of biomass resources and the many liquefaction techniques and processing conditions result in products with a broad range of properties and compositions. This paper will address the materials issues in three distinct areas. In production, materials are exposed to temperatures that range from 350 to 550 °C depending upon the process. Generally, austenitic stainless steels have performed reasonably well, although thicker oxide scales and intergranular attack have sometimes been observed. For storage and transport of the bio-oil products, temperatures experienced by the containment materials are not expected to exceed 50 °C. Our studies have shown that most raw bio-oils contain significant concentrations of organic acids, and low-molecular-weight organic acids were quite corrosive to carbon and low alloy steels. For some applications, subsequent processing is required, which includes hydrotreating or co-processing with a petroleum-derived liquid. These processes utilize a catalyst that requires periodic retreatment with a sulfidizing gas, and the exposure to this gas at elevated temperatures can cause appreciable corrosion to the more common austenitic stainless steels. The materials considered most cost-effective and sufficiently corrosion-resistant for each of these environments were identified.

Upgrading Fast Pyrolysis Oil with Vacuum Gas Oil by Catalytic Hydrodeoxygenation in Supercritical Ethanol

“…The degree of deoxygenation (DOD) was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the HDO process and was estimated by DOD = true( 1 − O nobreak0em.25em⁡ ( wt % ) product oil O nobreak0em.25em⁡ ( wt % ) feed , dry true) × 100 % The water content of the crude bio-oil was analyzed using a Karl Fischer titrator, and the TAN was determined on the basis of ASTM D664 . The viscosity was analyzed using a Brookfield viscometer (Middleboro, MA, U.S.A.) at 50 °C.…”

“…The water content of the crude bio-oil was analyzed using a Karl Fischer titrator, and the TAN was determined on the basis of ASTM D664. 35 The viscosity was analyzed using a Brookfield viscometer (Middleboro, MA, U.S.A.) at 50 °C. Before the analysis, the viscometer was calibrated using glycerol (with a viscosity of 142 mPa s at 50 °C).…”

Virtual Special Issue of Recent Advances in Biofuel Production via Co-refining Route

“…Selection of corrosionresistant, cost-effective structural materials for the process and containment vessels required for the production, upgrading, and storage of biomass-derived oils has been the subject of study at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for many years. Keiser et al 20 addressed the material issues in these three distinct areas. The materials considered most cost-effective and sufficiently corrosion-resistant for each of these environments were identified.…”

Risk Minimization in Scale-Up of Biomass and Waste Carbon Upgrading Processes

“…Additionally, trace particulates or other components of real feedstocks are often responsible for equipment plugging, another important phenomenon that can be investigated (and mitigated) in lab-sized units. Degradation resistance of process equipment such as reaction and holding vessels is also suitable to observe in lab-sized experimental units, as material corrosion behavior does not vary with unit size. , Results of these experiments can inform the project team of the necessity to use certain materials in specific process units, specifying pioneering plant capital cost estimations.…”

“…Degradation resistance of process equipment such as reaction and holding vessels is also suitable to observe in lab-sized experimental units, as material corrosion behavior does not vary with unit size. 29 , 30 Results of these experiments can inform the project team of the necessity to use certain materials in specific process units, specifying pioneering plant capital cost estimations.…”