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Upgrading Biochar into Activated Carbon Materials through Physical Activation

Upgrading Biochar into Activated Carbon Materials through Physical Activation. June 14 th , 2013 2013 Midwest Biochar Conference Champaign, Illinois Joseph Polin*, Zhengrong Gu , Xiaomin Wang Ag. & Biosystems Engineering Dept. South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota.

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Upgrading Biochar into Activated Carbon Materials through Physical Activation

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  1. Upgrading Biochar into Activated Carbon Materials through Physical Activation June 14th, 2013 2013 Midwest Biochar Conference Champaign, Illinois Joseph Polin*, ZhengrongGu, Xiaomin Wang Ag. & Biosystems Engineering Dept. South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota

  2. Outline • Introduction • Materials and Methods • Experiments • Results • Conclusion

  3. Introduction • High demand for alternative energy • Reduce greenhouse gases • Clean renewable biofuels • Future 2nd generation technologies • Inedible lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks • Thermochemical conversion

  4. Thermochemical Conversion • Fast pyrolysis • Thermal decomposition (typically 500-600°C) of biomass in the absence of oxygen • Variety of biomass feedstocks • Yields 50-70 wt. % bio-oil • Liquid precursor to drop-in biofuels compatible with current petroleum infrastructure • Byproducts • Bio-char and synthesis gas (syngas)

  5. Bio-char • Yield 10-30 wt. % • Composition • Carbon & Ash (minerals) • Proposed uses • Soil amendment • Carbon sequestration method • Burned for additional process heat Syngas • Yield 15-20 wt. % • Composition • CO2, CO, H2, CH4 • Proposed uses • Fischer-Tropsch synthesis • Burned for additional process heat

  6. Typical Fast Pyrolysis Process Process Heat Fast Pyrolysis Reactor Condenser System Combustion System Syngas Biomass Bio-Oil Bio-Char

  7. Project Scope • Upgrade bio-char into activated carbon • Another value added co-product will help improve overall economic potential of thermochemical platform • Activation methods • Physical or chemical activation • Oxidative reactants interact with carbon matrix to develop porosity and increase surface area • Flue gas components CO2 & H2O • Fast Pyrolysis Syngas

  8. Activated Carbon • Potable water treatment • Increasing global population in developing countries increases demand for clean water • Air purification and mercury control • New EPA emissions regulations for coal-fired power plants and large boilers/incinerators • Global market expects a compound annual growth rate of 11.1% from 2011 to 2016* *MarketsandMarkets.com – Market Report: Activated Carbon

  9. Equipment • Fixed Bed Reactor • Load bio-char in mesh basket • Adjustable gas flow • Micromeritics TriStar 3000 • N2 adsorption isotherm • Measure BET surface area

  10. CO2 Experiments • Boudouard reaction CO2 (g) + C (s)  2 CO (g)

  11. Results – CO2 @ 0.7 L/min

  12. Results – CO2 @ 0.7 L/min

  13. Results – CO2 Flow Rate Analysis • Comparison of Trend Line Peaks

  14. Steam Experiments • Multiple Reactions Occur Simultaneously • H2O (g) + C (s)  CO (g) + H2 (g) • 2 H2 (g) + C (s)  CH4 (g) • H2O (g) + CO (g)  H2 (g) + CO2 (g) • CO2 (g) + C (s)  2 CO (g) Activation (carbon conversion %) 

  15. Results – H2O @ 1 mL/min

  16. Results – H2O @ 1 mL/min

  17. Results – H2O Flow Rate Analysis • Comparison of Trend Line Peaks

  18. CO2/H2O Mixture • Comparison of Trend Line Peaks @ 900C

  19. Syngas Experiments • Typical syngas products from fast pyrolysis system* • CO2 and CO account for almost 93% • Same Boudouard reaction for activation *NREL 2010 Technical Report: Techno-Economic Analysis of Biomass Fast Pyrolysis to Transportation Fuels

  20. Syngas Activation

  21. Syngas Activation

  22. Results – Flow Rate Analysis • Comparison of Trend Line Peaks @ 900C

  23. Syngas Effectiveness Langmuir Kinetic Mechanism • CO2 initial adsorption with C • CO blockage of C active site • CO desorption and development of porosity

  24. Proposed Integration Biomass Fast Pyrolysis Reactor Condenser System Bio-Oil Syngas Bio-Char Biochar Activation Reactor Activated Carbon Process Heat Combustion System Improved Syngas with higher CO conc.

  25. Conclusion • Physical activation effectively increased surface area of starting bio-char • Lower flow rates and higher temperature (900C) create higher surface area • Fast Pyrolysis Syngas develops best activated carbon on Surface Area x Yield % basis • Produce maximum amount of activated carbon at 40% conversion

  26. Future Work • New reactor using rotary furnace • Different types of bio-char • Detailed economic analysis for bio-oil production

  27. Acknowledgements • Funding Agency • Prof. ZhengrongGu’s Research Team • Hong Jin • Xiaomin Wang • Sihan Li

  28. Thank YouAny Questions?

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