Control of Catalyst Poisons from Coal Gasifiers

65455 Gasification technologies convert coal into synthesis gas feed streams that can be used in the production of a wide variety of chemicals. However, the coal-derived synthesis gas contains a myriad of trace contaminants that may poison the catalysts used in the downstream manufacturing processes. Removal of these contaminants is critical for the successful utilization of coal as a feedstock in the synthesis of chemicals. This project will develop a sorbent system that can reduce the concentration of the three major catalyst poisons (arsenic, iron carbonyl, and nickel carbonyl) to less than parts-per-billion levels in the coal-derived synthesis gas. Phase I demonstrated the technical feasibility of using an expendable, arsenic absorbent for high temperature syngas clean-up. The developed sorbent had very high activity and arsenic absorption capacity, and was capable of absorbing about 40% arsenic on a weight basis. Phase II will continue to improve sorbent performance and scale-up its production. A prototype reactor will be developed, and the best sorbent will be used for demonstration in the presence of other impurities of the coal-deprived syngas (H2S, COS, NH3 and HC1). Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Conversion of coal-derived synthesis gas into chemical intermediates and transportation fuels is an emerging market. The most immediate need for the sorbent-based contaminant removal system would be in the commercial-scale demonstration of a liquid phase methanol process supported by the Clean Coal Technology program.