Fundamental study of kinetics and product distribution in catalytic hydrothermal gasification of industrial and municipal sludge

随着全球低碳经济的趋势，利用生物质生产能源和燃料越来越受欢迎。考虑到生物质的各种来源，将生活和工业污泥（废生物质）转化为氢、甲烷和其他高质量燃料的来源有望在未来显著增长。在北美，仅市政处理厂和纸浆造纸工业产生的污泥总量估计每年就远远超过1000万吨（干燥基础）。这种污泥主要由生物来源的有机化合物组成，其利用可能有资格获得碳信用。此外，常用的污泥管理方法——即土地应用、堆填、焚烧和厌氧消化——要么会污染环境，要么只能部分解决固体废物处置问题。因此，有必要开发绿色技术，更好地利用污泥作为可再生能源。水热气化为实现这一目标提供了巨大的希望。这项技术可以有效地将污泥转化为氢、甲烷和其他有价值的产品。该技术商业可行性的主要障碍是操作问题；比如结垢和腐蚀。我们的目标是通过开发新的催化途径来解决这些问题，以降低气化温度和压力，同时保持高氢气产量。这种技术有可能从根本上改变生物能源产业。它将有助于创造高度和可持续的繁荣，同时改善加拿大人民的健康和生活。这项技术符合加拿大在发展可再生能源平台方面的战略方向。它可以帮助加拿大在新兴的低碳经济中获得领先地位，并实现其温室气体排放目标。本项目培养的HQP将掌握多学科领域的前沿技能，处于绿色化学和生物能源科学的前沿。他们将成为加拿大“生物基”产业、研究机构和政府机构就业的理想人选。

With the global trend towards a low-carbon economy, biomass utilization for the production of energy and fuel is gaining increasing popularity. Considering the various sources of biomass, conversion of domestic and industrial sludge (waste biomass) as a source of hydrogen, methane, and other high quality fuels is expected to significantly grow in the future. In North America, the total amount of sludge produced by municipal treatment plants and pulp and paper industry alone is estimated to be well in excess of ten million tons a year (dry basis). This sludge mostly consists of organic compounds from biological sources and its utilization may be eligible for carbon credit. In addition, common options for sludge management- i.e. land application, landfilling, incineration and anaerobic digestion- either risk polluting our environment or provide only a partial solution for the solid waste disposal problem. Therefore, there is a need to develop green technologies that better utilize sludge as a renewable source of energy. Hydrothermal gasification offers great promise to achieve this goal. This technology can efficiently convert sludge to hydrogen, methane, and other valuable products. The main obstacles to the commercial viability of this technology are the operational issues; such as buildup of scale and corrosion. It is our objective to address these problems by developing novel catalytic pathways to reduce the gasification temperature and pressure while maintaining a high hydrogen yield. Such technology has the potential to radically transform the bioenergy industry. It will help create a high and sustainable level of prosperity while improving the health and lives of people in Canada. This technology is in line with Canada's strategic direction in terms of developing renewable energy platforms. It can help Canada secure a leading position in the emerging low-carbon economy and to achieve its greenhouse gas emission targets. HQP trained in this project will acquire cutting-edge skills in multi-disciplinary fields and will be at the frontier of the green chemistry and bioenergy sciences. They will be ideal candidates for employment by the Canada's "bio-based" industry, research institutions, and government organizations.