Biological and Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Biofuels

Biological and Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Biofuels and Chemicals Jingguang Chen Chemical Engineering

Molecular Architecture of Plant Cell Walls (lignocellulosic biomass) 200 nm Mc. Cann et al. 1990 J. Cell Sci. 96, 323 -334

Lignin and Cellulose Molecules • Average molecular composition, soft maple lignin: CH 1. 2 O 0. 27 – Cellulose composition: CH 1. 7 O 0. 83 • Up to 30% of the mass of wood, and 40% of the energy content • Wood processing plants produce 50 million tons of lignin waste annually Holladay et al. “Top Value-Added Chemicals from Biomass: Volume II- Results of Screening Potential Candidates from Biorefinery Lignin. ” Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. October 2007. 3

Converting Biomass Using Biorefinery Concept R. Agrawal and N. Singh, AICh. E Journal, 55, 1898 (2009)

Biological Conversion of Cellulose to Biofuel Mc. Cann et al.

Chemistry of Biodiesel Source: Gerpen, J. V. (2005). "Biodiesel Processing and Production. " Fuel Processing Technology 86: 1097 -1107.

UD Energy Frontier Research Center Crosscuttin g Research Thrust Technologi cal Platform Hierarchic al Multiscale Materials Reformin H 2 g. Chemicals Science Processing Multiscale Modeling Characterizati on techniques Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis Direct Carbon FCs Fuels Electricity Reaction Pathways, Kinetics, Structure-Property Relationships Process Innovation, Optimization

Thermal Conversion of Lignin to Jet Fuel Huber, GW. “Catalysis for Production of JP-8 Range Molecules from Lignocellulosic Biomass. ” 12 March 2009. UD collaborators: Prof. Lobo, Chemical Engineering 9

Thermochemical Transformation of Lignocellulosic Biomass Ø Traditional paths entail high temperatures and suffer from carbon Ø CPOX forms no carbon Cat. upgrade Pyrolysis High T Biomass Very high T Fuel Oil Char Tar Gasification Syngas Char CPOX Syngas Methanol Synfuel

CPOX of Cellulose 3 mm Dauenhauer (UMass) and Schmidt (UMN)

Catalytic Conversion of Cellulose to Chemicals Conversion of cellulose to ethylene glycol on Ni-WC & Ni-W 2 C: Na et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. (2008); Catalysis Today (2009)