Bio-Chemical Synthesis: Mixed Alcohol Synthesis (MAS)

West Biofuels has conducted research to advance the commercial readiness of a system to convert woody biomass residue into a mixed alcohol product high in renewable fuel ethanol. Woody biomass is a critically-underutilized resource in California that has the potential to be utilized in biofuel production, converting it into an alternate resource in high demand. This process produces a fuel much lower in carbon intensity than current ethanol produced from corn while reducing pollutant emissions and forest fire risk.
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West Biofuels utilized synthesis testing with a mixed alcohol synthesis catalyst on three different reactor scales to evaluate the technical and commercial viability of the process. During parameter testing, optimization of temperature, flow, pressure, and gas composition was performed. In a separate long-term test, 1000 hours of on-stream testing evaluated the performance stability of the catalyst. The project team was able to show a high conversion rate for the biomass-based syngas and a product stream high in ethanol and higher alcohols (primarily propanol).
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Techno-economic analysis showed that the process reduced the capital cost of a benchmark system by 10%, and therefore reduced the price per gallon of ethanol. In addition, the process yielded ten times the quantity of co-products such as propanol which have a potentially higher market value than ethanol.

System Components

• Dual Fluidized Bed (Gasifier and Combustion) to produce high quality syngas.
• Gas Compressor to compress syngas to 2500psi (172 Bar).
• Chemical reactor to convert syngas to mixed alcohols with a catalyst.
• Thermal management system to maintain a reactor temp around 600F (320C).
• Custom logging and controls to control the entire system and monitor testing.