Project Number: 1935-41000-072-01
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 30, 2006
End Date: Sep 29, 2007

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research project is to conduct literature studies and engineering analysis to estimate the net energy, mass balance, and greenhouse gas emissions of thermochemical processes (e.g. gasification, pyrolysis, etc.) that can be used to convert plant biomass into liquid and gaseous energy carriers and to compare the values to analogous parameters for the conversion of biomass to ethanol, using the "sugar" and fermentation platform.

Approach:
Extensively evaluate the previous primary and secondary (review) literature in this field to obtain results of previous studies in these areas and to obtain data to support engineering analysis. Use computer simulation and other technical and economic models to determine energy-, and mass-balances for simple combustion, fast pyrolysis, gasification, and pressurized thermal de-polymerization processes. Evaluate relative impacts of these technologies on greenhouse gas emissions.