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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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Experimental Study on Co-processing of Biocrude distillate into Liquefaction Process for Drop-in Biofuel Production

Author

Term

4. term

Publication year

2024

Submitted on

Pages

63

Abstract

Omdannelse af affald til energi, især til værdifulde transportbrændstoffer, vinder frem. Liquefaktion kan omdanne mange typer lignocellulosisk biomasse og bioaffald til en såkaldt drop-in biokrude, som kan forarbejdes i den eksisterende petroleumsinfrastruktur. Dette studie søger at øge forståelsen af liquefaktionsprocessen. Konkret undersøges destillation af biokrude fra hydrotermisk liquefaktion (HTL) med en detaljeret analyse af de resulterende fraktioner (forskellige kogepunktsområder). Derudover gennemføres en grundig fysisk og kemisk karakterisering af biokruden efter liquefaktion og efter hver efterfølgende behandling ved hjælp af en række forsøg i mikro-batch-reaktorer. Målinger omfatter elementar-sammensætning (kulstof, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen), energiindhold (højere brændværdi, HHV) og surhedsgrad (totalt syretal, TAN). Endelig vurderes potentialet for at blande biokruden med petroleumsråolie.

Converting waste into energy, especially into high-value transportation fuels, is gaining momentum. Liquefaction can turn a wide range of lignocellulosic biomass and bio-wastes into a drop-in bio-crude that can be processed within the existing petroleum infrastructure. This study aims to deepen understanding of the liquefaction process. Specifically, it investigates the distillation of bio-crude from hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and provides a detailed analysis of the resulting boiling-range fractions. It also delivers a thorough physical and chemical characterization of the bio-crude after liquefaction and after each subsequent treatment, using a series of micro-batch reactor experiments. Measurements include elemental composition (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen), energy content (higher heating value, HHV), and acidity (total acid number, TAN). Finally, the study examines the potential to blend the bio-crude with petroleum crude oil.

[This summary has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]