Fast Pyrolysis/Reforming Route for the Production of H2 from Biomass and Wastes

Biomass and specific wastes represent available feedstocks from which H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 can be produced. The CO.sub.2 is used in the ecosystem to grow biomass and thus is entirely recycled. Traditionally, partial oxidation, i.e. gasification, has been the technology which leads to a gaseous mixture of CO, H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2. Catalytic shift conversion in the presence of steam gives H.sub.2and CO.sub.2. Our group is exploring an alternative pathway in which fat pyrolysis converts biomass and wastes into oxygenated oils. These oxygenate intermediates are subsequently cracked and steam reformed to yield H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 as final products. This paper presents the chemical and thermodynamic basis of this approach, the catalysis related to steam reforming of the oxygenates and thetechno-economic integration of the process.