SBIR Phase I: Catalyst for Biomass Gasification Processes

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将开发一种从气化生物质中去除焦油的新方法，这将使生物质能够以经济有效的方式生产电力、液体燃料和增值化学品。该项目的目标是开发一种改进的催化剂和催化方法，将气化生物质中的残余碳氢化合物和焦油转化为氢和碳氧化物，从而在进一步加工之前提高合成气的质量。该方法基于一种新发明的催化剂材料，该材料已被证明对生物质气化应用具有高活性和稳定性。第一阶段的工作将侧重于新催化剂的开发，并展示用于焦油去除和碳氢化合物重整的新催化剂和催化方法。第一阶段的研究成果将有助于降低成本，提高生物质转化过程的效率。这项技术的广泛影响（商业潜力）可能会减少对使用化石燃料，特别是石油和天然气的依赖。使用化石燃料供热和发电造成了环境污染和全球变暖。解决迫在眉睫的能源危机没有单一的解决方案，而是需要多种解决方案来满足未来的能源需求（包括风能、太阳能、氢、生物质能和/或燃料电池）。该项目侧重于生物质选择所需的催化剂技术，并特别提供技术，使其在技术和经济上可行，使生物质成为国家能源未来的重要组成部分。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a new approach for removing tars from gasified biomass, which will enable the cost effective and efficient use of biomass to produce power, liquid fuels and value added chemicals. The objective of this project is develop an improved catalyst and catalytic approach that will convert residual hydrocarbons and tars in gasified biomass into hydrogen, and carbon oxides, thereby upgrading the quality of the synthesis gas before further processing. The approach is based on a newly invented catalyst material that has been demonstrated to have high activity and stability for biomass gasification applications. The Phase I work will focus on development of the new catalyst and demonstrating the new catalyst and catalytic approach for tar removal and hydrocarbon reforming. The Phase I research results will enable reductions in cost and improvements in efficiency of biomass conversion processes. The broader impacts (commercial potential) of this technology will possibly lessen dependence on the use of fossil fuels, especially petroleum and natural gas. The use of fossil fuels for heat and power contributes to environmental pollution and global warming. There is no single solution to the pending energy crisis, but rather a combination of solutions will be required to meet future energy needs (including wind, solar, hydrogen, biomass, and/or fuel cells). This project focuses on catalyst technology that is needed for the biomass option, and specifically offers technology that will make it technically and economically feasible to make biomass a significant part of the nation's energy future.