Chinese chemists report on the properties of biomass derived syngas.

[NNadir]

The abstract:

"The characteristics of methanol synthesis from biomass-derived syngas were studied in a highpressure
microreactor with a commercial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst. A series of experiments was
conducted at a temperature range of 215-270 °C, with three different pressures of 2.6, 3.6, and
4.6 MPa and space velocities of 4000-12 000 h-1. Four model bio-syngases with different H2/
CO/CO2/N2 ratios, which were configured according to the results of biomass gasification, were
used in the studies. The effect of temperature, pressure, and space velocity on the space-time
yield and selectivity of methanol was explored. The sensitivity analysis of the yield and selectivity
of methanol with different H2/(CO + CO2) and CO2/CO ratios was investigated. Results show
that both yield and selectivity of methanol are affected by the operating parameters, and optimum
conditions exist within the tested range. The yield of methanol is sensitive to the H2/(CO + CO2)
ratio, whereas the selectivity of methanol is more sensitive to the CO2/CO ratio. It is concluded
that the yield of methanol from the syngas derived from air-steam gasification is lower than
that from catalytic gasification, whereas the selectivity of methanol is the reverse. With a partial
removal of CO2, both yield and selectivity of methanol can be improved."

From the upcoming issue of "Energy and Fuels"

[TaleWgnDg]

1. OMG! Does this mean that we won't harness

fart-gas from cows?! Aahh, tell me taint so!





edited to add: dammit. the internet is grand. pick a subject, and you're gonna find somebody who's posted a tidbit about it . . . LOL
http://www.widba.com/html_articles/EmeraldDairyQualityAssuranc.htm
(w/ special attention to the very last sentence or two)

[canuckforpeace]

2. Translation for non-chemists? n/t

[Maple]

3. Is there any kind

of a link available? This is good stuff!

[jmowreader]

4. It's a start

If they can get the temperatures and pressures, or the cost of generating the temps and pressures, down to the point where the cost of producing the methanol doesn't exceed the value of the methanol--and, more importantly, to get the cost below that of the distillation method used today--this could be a very important new way to make industrial methanol.

Methanol is too damn corrosive to be used as a general purpose motor fuel. Racers use it in monster trucks and Indy/Champ cars, and those guys always run a tank of gasoline through their cars to clean the methanol out of them before they pack up for the day.

[NNadir]

5. Let's put it nicely. Methanol sucks as a motor fuel.

It is too dangerous on environmental grounds since it is both toxic and miscible with water.

Methanol is a useful intermediate to make the non-toxic motor fuel dimethyl ether. It is also useful for making the methyl ethers known as "biodiesel."

Actually, as I'm sure the chemists working on this project know, you can make whatever you damn please using syn gas, which is why they call it syn gas. This work is applicable for the direct synthesis of dimethyl ether, I'm sure.