Production of FT transportation fuels from biomass; technical options, process analysis and optimisation, and development potential

Synthesis of Transportation Fuels from Biomass: Chemistry, Catalysts, and Engineering

“…176 This analysis is consistent with the results of Hamelinck et al who have also studied the economics of production of FT transportation fuels, methanol, and hydrogen from biomass and concluded that FTS diesel is 40-50% more expensive than methanol or hydrogen. 178,179 Also included in Table 9 is the current cost of various petroleum-derived fuels. These costs are dependent on crude oil and natural gas prices, which can be volatile.…”

“…Production of liquid fuels from biomass by the gasification route is not currently economical competitive with production of liquid fuels from petroleum; however, researchers have predicted that in most EU countries syn-gas-derived biofuels can be cost competitive with petroleum-derived fuels if they are given tax exemptions. 114,178,179 Production of bio-oils by fast pyrolysis is a commercial technology; however, bio-oils are currently not being used for liquid fuels production. (Bio-oils instead are used for primarily for chemical production.)…”

Effect of metal loading on activity, selectivity and deactivation behavior of Pd/silica–alumina catalysts in the hydroconversion of n-hexadecane

“…i/n in CP (4) o/p in CP (5) molCP/ mol cracked (6) (1) Pseudo-first-order rate constant for n-C 16 H 34 conversion. (2) Carbon based selectivities to product lumps.…”

“…(3) Methane Space Time Yield (moles of methane produced per unit time per unit mass of catalyst). (4) Iso-to-normal alkane ratio in cracking products. (5) Olefin-to-paraffin ratio in cracking products (calculated on products with n C < 6).…”

“…The best strategy to yield synthetic diesel in these plants is to maximize FT selectivity towards long chain hydrocarbons (waxes), which are converted by cracking and isomerization into middle distillate fuels in a subsequent hydroprocessing step [1][2][3]. The conversion of biomass to liquid fuels has been the subject of many studies, as a promising technology for the production of carbon neutral fuels to help reduce CO 2 emissions to atmosphere, even though it has not yet found commercial application [4][5][6][7][8][9].…”