ENERGETIC UTILIZATION OF BIOMASS - PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SYNTHESIS GAS, HYDROGEN, AND METHANE, AND OF SYNFUEL

Energetic Utilisation of Biomass - Processes for the Production of Synthesis Gas, Hydrogen, and Methane, and of Liquid Fuels. Processes for the improvement of the fuel properties of biomass largely parallel those for the gasification or liquefaction of lignite. Hydrogenation of the biopolymers present in biomass (celluloses, lignin, lignocelluloses) require prior chemical degradation of the complex biopolymer matrix. A distinction is made between pyrolytic processes (350 to 500-degrees-C, normal pressure) and hydrolytic, solvolytic, and extractive processes conducted under elevated pressure. The relatively high level of investment for the lytic processes requires a minimum plant size of several hundred megawatt in order to profit from economy of scale. Biomass gasification and the hydrogen and methanol production processes based thereon are also suitable for smaller plants. In the near future, however, the energetic utilisation of biomass will probably be limited to direct combustion in biomass-fueled thermal power plant and the gasification and subsequent generation of current by means of fuel cells.