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Catalytic Process Engineering

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    • KONTI-C
    • In-situ characterization of catalysts under HP/HT conditions
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    • Etamax
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    • Rational Design of Novel Ru/C Catalysts for Supercritical Water Gasification (SCWG)
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Etamax

a higher methane yield from organic waste by a combination of anaerobic digestion and hydrothermal gasification

Scematic of the EtaMax project
Scematic of the EtaMax project

Background/Motivation:

Anaerobic digestion is an established method for methane production out of organic waste. However, not all organic molecules can be transformed to methane via this process. A residue still contining about 60-70% of organic material (dry basis) accumulates, containing mostly lignucellulosic material. Hydrothermal gasification of the fermentation residue may increase the methane yield of organic waste. Additionally, a sanitization of the residue, as it may be required for certain feedstocks, would become unnecessary with this process. Hydrothermal gasification experiments in our lab test rig Konti-2 using slurrys (real feedstocks containing solids) is a new challenge. A special pump has been designed, capable of pumping slurrys against a pressure of up to 350 bar. The broad spectum of composites that make up a real feedstock such as the fermentation residue, as well as seasonal fluctuations make the gasification process a very complex problem.


left: fermentation residue, mid: extract phases after liquefaction, right: extract phases after gasification
left: fermentation residue, mid: extract phases after liquefaction, right: extract phases after gasification

Approach:

A batch reactor system is used to test conditions and screen for challenges in the gasification of fermentation residue. Experiments have been made at different tempartures, residence times, catalyst to biomass ratios and with different catalyst systems. The heat-up phase in the absence of catalysts was investigated as well. With the optimum parameters found in the batch experiments, continuous experiments were performed in the lab test rig Konti-2. The Slurry-Feeder was tested for the first time in this run.


Selected results of batch experiments:

A residence time dependent biomass to catalyst ratio of 0.45 g g-1 h-1 (used for comparison with a weight hourly space velocity in a continuous process) was found to result in nearly full conversion with the Ru/C catalyst. A temperature of 400°C was found to maximize the methane yield. A Ru/ZrO2 catalyst, tested under similar conditions, was less active.
Pump for slurries, bottom: lab test rig Konti-2
Pump for slurries, bottom: lab test rig Konti-2
C in extract phases after hydrothermal treatment; TC = total carbon; TIC = inorganic carbon, TC = organic carbon
C in extract phases after hydrothermal treatment; TC = total carbon; TIC = inorganic carbon, TC = organic carbon

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Paul Scherrer Institut
Bioenergy and Catalysis Laboratory
5232 Villigen PSI
Switzerland

Head CPE Group
Prof. Dr. Frédéric Vogel
Tel: +41 56 310 21 35
Email: frederic.vogel at psi.ch

Secretary
Gisela Herlein
Tel: +41 56 310 26 63
E-mail: gisela.herlein@psi.ch

Homepage ENE

Energy and Environment Research Division at PSI

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The College of Engineering of the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland

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Hydromethan AG is a spin-off company of the Paul Scherrer Institute
Main topic ist the production of synthetic natural gas from organic waste streams

PSI Scientific Reports

Archive 2006-2012. The Scientific Reports – containing accounts of research topics from all the different areas – provide an impression of the variety of subjects researched at PSI.


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current opening at Research Division Energy and Environment

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