In order to obtain liquid fuel or hydrogen from biomass o.n an industrial scale, the biomass must first be converted to a synthesis gas.
This is done by applying heat and pressure while introducing a gasifying medium like oxygen. The resulting synthesis gas primarily comprises hydrogen (H2), carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2).
The synthesis gas must then be purified and the right balance of hydrogen and carbon monoxide (2:1 ratio) established before Fischer-Tropsch synthesis can be carried out.
This process is a key step in converting biomass to liquid (BtL) fuel by synthesising hydrogen and carbon monoxide to create long-chain hydrocarbons. The resulting substance is a high-purity, sulphur-free, odourless, low-emission fuel, which can not only be reproduced with a high degree of precision, but also has an excellent carbon balance.
In 2008, CHOREN Industries, based in the town of Freiberg in Germany, opened the first commercial plant dedicated to producing biomass to liquid (BtL) fuels. The facility has capacity to produce 15,000 tonnes of 2G biofuel per year from around 68,000 tonnes of biomass.
Our Engineering Division partnered with CHOREN for this pilot project and assumed responsibility for numerous process steps. Linde is also one of the cooperation partners involved in CHOREN’s industrial-scale plant, currently scheduled for construction in the town of Schwedt in Brandenburg, Germany.
From 2012 onwards, this plant will have an annual biofuel production capacity of 200,000 tonnes.
| At a glance |
| Name: | Industrial-scale gasification of biomass |
| Country: | Germany |
| Raw material: | Biomass |
| Process technology: | Fischer-Tropsch synthesis |
| Cooperation partner: | CHOREN Industries |
