Exelus Biomass to Gasoline Receives DOE Grant

Image via Green Car Congress

The BTG process applies a series of moderate-temperature, catalyzed reactions to convert lignocellulosic biomass into gasoline-range alcohols. The BioGasoline produced by BTG has a high octane rating (greater than 105 using the (R+M)/2 method), and lower blending vapor pressure (RVP) and higher energy density than conventional ethanol.

The process consists of three steps: liquid-phase decomposition of a biomass slurry with lignin rejection; stabilization in a fixed bed reactor; and deoxygenation in another fixed bed reactor. The finished BioGasoline is then separated from the water, which can be recycled. __GreenCarCongress

The better the catalyst, the lower the temperatures used -- and less energy consumed -- in the conversion from biomass to gasoline. The more efficient the 3-step process, the higher the yield of product from feedstock. Each part of every step in the process can be improved.

The largest threat to this approach to BTL (biomass to liquid fuel) besides the government, is lower energy approaches using microbes and acellular enzyme systems which do not require even moderately high temperatures.