Method for the Conversion of Biomass to Liquid and/or Gaseous Energy Carriers

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the pyrolysis of a hydrocarbon-containing solid biomass for the obtention of liquid and/or gaseous energy carriers in the presence of a heat carrier, whereby a mixture of the heat carrier and the biomass is heated to the pyrolysis of the biomass. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the biomass is impregnated with a volatile, non-aqueous liquid before being mixed with the heat carrier.

1 . A method for the pyrolysis of a hydrocarbon-containing solid biomass for the obtention of liquid and/or gaseous energy carriers in the presence of a heat carrier, whereby a mixture of the heat carrier and the biomass is heated up to pyrolysis of the biomass, characterized in that the biomass is impregnated with a volatile, non-aqueous liquid before being mixed with the heat carrier. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the volatile liquid exhibits a final boiling point (95%) lower than or, at most, equal to the temperature of the pyrolysis step. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the volatile liquid exhibits a final boiling point (95%) of 380° C. or less. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the volatile liquid is a hydrocarbon mixture with a content of aromates of 1% or more. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the volatile liquid is selected from the group consisting of gas oil (LCO/LGO), diesel, petrol and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein a refinery intermediate is used as the volatile liquid. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mass ratio of the volatile liquid to the biomass is 1.5 to 1 or less based on the mass of the dry biomass. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pyrolysis is performed at an overpressure of 0.5 bar or less. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pyrolysis is carried out in the form of a liquid-phase pyrolysis. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein a heavy oil, in particular a vacuum gas oil, is used as the heat carrier of the liquid-phase pyrolysis. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the mass ratio of the volatile liquid to the biomass is 1:1 or less based on the mass of the dry biomass.