SBIR Phase I: Conversion of biomass by catalytic hydrothermal gasification, bromination, and catalytic coupling

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目是一条从生物质生产液体燃料的创新路线。这一过程将通过三个关键步骤将生物质，包括木质纤维生物质转化为液体燃料。首先，合成天然气(SNG)或沼气由厌氧消化或催化水热气化产生。SNG含有丰富的甲烷，可用溴活化生成甲基溴。最后，甲基溴被催化偶联到更高级的碳氢化合物。每个步骤都是已知的，但概念证明尚未建立。这项技术的可行性将通过一系列精心规划的实验室实验来确定。预计这项研究将展示技术上的可行性，并证明商业上的可行性。GRT在将天然气转化为燃料方面拥有丰富的经验和知识产权；该项目是内部专业知识的自然延伸，利用现有设施。当代社会对碳中性可再生燃料的需求很大。该项目设想了一个将生物质转化为碳氢燃料的过程，具有重大的市场影响。美国能源部估计，每年有多达10亿吨的生物质可可持续地转化为生物燃料，足以取代美国三分之一的石油使用量。社会需要一个以与石油竞争的成本生产生物燃料的过程；该项目的成功结果将满足这一需求。GRT过去曾与财富100强公司合作进行工艺开发。如果证明这一过程在技术和经济上的可行性，预计将建立类似的伙伴关系。这项奖励是根据2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)提供资金的。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is an innovative route to produce liquid fuels from biomass. The process will convert biomass, including lignocellulosic biomass, to liquid fuels, with three key steps. First, a synthetic natural gas (SNG) or biogas is generated by either anaerobic digestion or by catalytic hydrothermal gasification. The SNG is rich in methane, which is activated with bromine to produce methyl bromide. Finally, the methyl bromide is coupled catalytically to higher hydrocarbons. Each of the steps is known, but proof of concept has not been established. Feasibility of the technology will be determined through a series of carefully planned laboratory experiments. It is anticipated that this research will exhibit technical viability, and demonstrate commercial feasibility. GRT has substantial experience with and intellectual property related to converting natural gas to fuels; the project is a natural extension of in-house expertise, utilizing existing facilities. Substantial demand for carbon-neutral renewable fuels exists in contemporary society. The project contemplates a process to convert biomass into hydrocarbon fuels, with substantial market impact. The US DOE has estimated that as much as a billion tons per year of biomass is available sustainably for conversion to biofuels, sufficient to displace one third of petroleum use in the US. Society requires a process to produce biofuels at costs competitive with petroleum; a successful outcome to the project will satisfy that demand. GRT has partnered with Fortune 100 companies in the past for process development. Should technical and economic viability of the process be demonstrated, a similar partnership is anticipated.This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).