Infrastructure Compatible Biofuel Production System for Lignocellulosic Biomass (ICBPSLB)

Infrastructure compatible biofuels, produced by conventional processes and using non-food biomass, are currently too expensive. The proposed innovative lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels system uses a robust noncatalytic front end to create optimal hydrocarbon intermediates that are then cleaned at low temperature ahead of a final catalytic step that produces a gasoline like fuel. This high octane synthetic gasoline is fully compatible with the existing transport fuel infrastructure. Under the Phase I project, the biofuels system will be designed, to process lignocellulosic biomass, including agriculture residue, energy crops and forest residues, and performance will be projected. This performance projection will then be supported by feasibility tests using laboratory scale non-catalytic front-end and catalytic back-end reactors, in the Altex and Pennsylvania State University test facilities, respectively. Lastly, the design and performance projections will be updated and costs estimated, to determine the technical and economic feasibility of the concept for converting lignocellulosic biomass to transport infrastructure compatible biofuels. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The innovative system can be used to produce infrastructure compatible second generation transport biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass. These applications will reduce petroleum use by over 33 billion gallons per year, and reduce CO2 emissions by 291.3 million tons per year, as well as saving of over $73 billion/year