Country Report -- USA

Presented at the IEA Bioenergy Task 34 meeting

September 15, 2009

Doug Elliott

Outline

USA research groups

USA commercialization efforts

Biomass to End Use

Integrated Biorefineries

Thermochemical Conversion

Feedstock Production and Infrastructure

Demonstration & Deployment

Processing RD&D

BiofuelsFeedstock Production

Feedstock Logistics

Bioproducts

Biopower

Biofuels– rail, truck,

pipelines– blenders– fuel pumps

VehiclesCONVERSION

Biopower– transmission

lines

Bioproducts– rail, truck

DISTRIBUTION END USE

Chemicals, Materials

Grid

Infrastructure

Biochemical Conversion

Hydrotreating of Biomass Pyrolysis Oils

fastpyrolyzer

HC

light products

mediumproducts

heavyproducts

hydrogen recycle and byproduct gas reforming

charbyproduct

H2

biomass

HT

aqueousbyproduct

gasbyproduct

aqueousbyproduct

Laboratory Research and Development

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (DOE)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (DOE)

Eastern Regional Research Center (USDA-ARS)

Iowa State University

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

University of Maine

Washington State University-Pullman and Tri-Cities

Mississippi State University

Virginia Tech

University of Minnesota

University of Georgia

Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryDouglas Elliott, Alan Zacher

Fluidized-bed pyrolysis1 kg/h, 2 in pipe

oil spray quench

feedstock assessment

Catalytic pyrolysis

Technoeconomic assessments

Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryDouglas Elliott, Todd Hart

Improved catalysts for bio-oil hydrogenation

ruthenium

palladium

Small batch testing of model compounds

acetic acid

guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol)

furfural

Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryDouglas Elliott, Gary Neuenschwander

Continuous-flow bench-scale reactor tests have been performed to test catalysts and processing conditions.

99 hydrotreater data sets49 hydrocracking data sets

Recovered products are analyzed at PNNL and UOP to determine composition and value

National Renewable Energy LaboratoryStefan Czernik, Kristiina Iisa

Bio-oil neutralization and stabilizationCatalytic Pyrolysis

MBMS testing

Mild-hydrotreating batch reactorTechnoeconomic assessments

Integration into petroleum refinery

Hot-gas filtration (bio-oil stabilization DOE solicitation)

Eastern Regional Research Center-USDA ARSAkwesi Boateng, Charles Mullan

Pyro-probe GCMS

Bubbling fluidized-bed fast pyrolysis2.5 kg/h, 3 in diameter

fractional product recovery with electrostatic precipitator

agricultural feedstock comparisons

Catalytic pyrolysis (DOE bio-oil stabilization solicitation)

Iowa State UniversityRobert Brown

Fast pyrolysis researchmicropyrolysis -- 500 g to ¼ ton/day PDU

fluidized beds, auger pyrolyzers, free-fall reactor

bio-oil recovery methods with fractionation

hot-gas filtration

Interdisciplinary studiesupgrading

plant ideotypes to affect bio-oil properties

carbon sequestration using bio-char

technoeconomic assessments

Bio-oil stabilization (DOE solicitation)

University of Massachusetts-AmherstGeorge Huber

Catalytic fast pyrolysisgasoline range aromatics directly from biomass

Upgrading of bio-oil by aqueous-phase processingcatalytic processing to hydrogen and alkanes

Bio-oil stabilization (DOE solicitation)

Fundamental kinetic model of pyrolysisreactor engineering model

Virginia TechFoster Agblevor

Fluidized-bed pyrolysis100 g/hhot gas filtercondensers and electrostatic precipitator

Chicken litter pyrolysis5 ton/dayfluidized bed reactor

Fractional catalytic pyrolysis2 kg/hfluidized bed reactor

Bio-oil stabilization (DOE solicitation)Stable bio-oils that can be distilled into various fractionsStable bio-oils will also be mixed with petroleum feedstock for processing

Mississippi State UniversityPhilip Steele

Extensive review of fast pyrolysis

Auger pyrolysis unitmodified from ROI original design1 kg/h <1.5 sec to few sec vapor residence time30 to 50 seconds solids residence time)

Bio-oil hydrotreatinghydrocarbon products

University of MaineClayton Wheeler, Brian Frederick, William DeSisto

Fluidized-bed fast pyrolysis 100 g/h

hybrid cyclone/hot gas filter

electrostatic precipitator

whole biomass and biomass fractions

Catalytic upgrading of bio-oilfundamental study of HDO by model compound tests

novel catalyst synthesis

Washington State UniversityManuel Garcia-Perez, Hanwu Lei

Pullman CampusFundamental studies of of reactions

Pretreatment methods

Built a 2 kg/h auger pyrolyzer

Develop and validate new analytical methods

Tri-Cities CampusComparisons of microwave heating and bubbling fluidized-bed

University of MinnesotaR. Roger Ruan

Microwave-assisted pyrolysisup to pilot scale (70 kg/h) continuous-flow

Catalytic pyrolysis to produce stable bio-oil

Reach and maintain exothermic reactions

Low-cost distributed system for on-farm application

University of GeorgiaKC Das

Slow pyrolysisbatch reactors, 1 to 5L

Intermediate pyrolysisauger reactor, 4 in diameter by 14 in long

1 ton/d auger unit operated by Eprida Inc.

Commercial process Research

UOP LLCEnvergent TechnologiesDynamotiveRenewable Oil International (ROI)R&A Energy Solutions

UOP LLCJennifer Holmgren, Rich Marinangeli

Formed a Renewable Energy and Chemicals division in November 2006

CRADA project with PNNL and NREL for petroleum refinery feedstock from biomass pyrolysis 2006-2009

Bio-oil stabilization project (DOE solicitation) with PNNL, NREL, ERRC, Ensyn and Pall 2009-2011

Distributed Pyrolysis and Centralized Bio-oil Processing

StabilizationPyrolysisBiomass

Mixed WoodsMixed Woods

Corn StoverCorn Stover

Deoxygenate

GasolineDiesel JetChemicals

Other Refinery

Processes

Biocrude

Ref

iner

y

P P

P P

P P

Ref

iner

y

P P

P P

P P

Holmgren, J. et al. NPRA national meeting, San Diego, February 2008.

Envergent TechnologiesMark Reno, Geoff Hopkins

Joint venture 55/45 of UOP LLC and Ensyn

Near term commercialization of fast pyrolysis of biomass for heat and power

Longer term potential of upgraded fuels being evaluated

Dynamotive USATom Bouchard

Bio-oil production under contractWest Lorne operated at 75% of 130 ton/d capacityreached peak of 090% of nameplate6-month contract for $260,00018 shipments planned, August delivery completed

200 ton/day feed contract signed for Arkansas plant220,000 green ton per year for 10 years

2-stage hydrotreating of bio-oil to hydrocarbons

Renewable Oil InternationalPhillip Badger

Has built several auger pyrolysis unitsFlorence, AlabamaUniversity of GeorgiaMississippi State UniversityBoston, MassachusettsVirginia

Small Business Industrial Research workMobile demonstration unit

recently in Oregonfew hundred pounds per day

R&A SolutionsJoel Keller

Slow pyrolysis auger kiln

Vapor products burned for power generation in integrated plant

Oil, char and aqueous byproducts all have uses

A wide range of biomass and waste can be processed

3 ton/day unit for the Army; 50 ton/day considered largest expected size

Conclusions

Biomass conversion to liquid fuels via pyrolytic processes and catalytic hydroprocessing is under development.

Interesting yields of hydrocarbon liquid products have been demonstrated at the bench-scale.

Improved understanding of process steps and product properties is developing.