A Study of Supercritical Water Gasification and Syngas Purification

Abstract

The following thesis is organized into manuscript format with two manuscript-based chapters. The goal of the works outlined in the first manuscript of this thesis was to determine the energetic feasibility of syngas purification in a cryogenic packed bed (CPB). To test this, a previously developed CPB model was adapted for use with syngas. Based on the simulation results, it was determined that two of the syngases tested were energetically feasible for purification in a CPB. The goal of the works outlined in the second manuscript of this thesis was to test the Ni10%-Ru0.08%/Al2O3-ZrO2 catalyst in a supercritical water gasifier (SCWG) with a hydrothermally liquefied (HTL) corn husk feedstock. The catalyst was tested against both an uncatalysed scenario Ni10%-Ru0.08%/Al2O3 catalysed scenario. The Ni10%-Ru0.08%/Al2O3-ZrO2 catalysed scenario had the greatest hydrogen yield but the catalyst was rapidly poisoned, likely due to high concentrations of phenol and furan in the HTL corn husk.