G. Goula

Biogas Management: Advanced Utilization for Production of Renewable Energy and Added-value Chemicals

Biogas is widely available as a product of anaerobic digestion of urban, industrial, animal and agricultural wastes. Its indigenous local-base production offers the promise of a dispersed renewable energy source that can significantly contribute to regional economic growth. Biogas composition typically consists of 35-75% methane, 25-65% carbon dioxide, 1-5% hydrogen along with minor quantities of water vapor, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and halides. Current utilization for heating and lighting is inefficient and polluting, and, in the case of poor quality biogas (CH4/CO2<1), exacerbated by detrimental venting to the atmosphere. Accordingly, innovative and efficient strategies for improving the management and utilization of biogas for the production of sustainable electrical power or high added-value chemicals are highly desirable. Utilization is the focus of the present review in which the scientific and technological basis underlying alternative routes to the efficient and eco-friendly exploitation of biogas are described and discussed. After concisely reviewing state-of-the-art purification and upgrading methods, in-depth consideration is given to the exploitation of biogas in the renewable energy, liquid fuels, transport and chemicals sectors along with an account of potential impediments to further progress.

The Effect of WO3 Modification of ZrO2 Support on the Ni-Catalyzed Dry Reforming of Biogas Reaction for Syngas Production

The time-on-stream catalytic performance and stability of 8wt% Ni catalyst supported on two commercially available catalytic supports, ZrO2 and 15wt% WO3-ZrO2, was investigated under the biogas dry reforming reaction for syngas production, at 750oC and a biogas quality equal to CH4/CO2=1.5, that represents a common concentration of real biogas. A number of analytical techniques such as N2 adsorption/desorption (BET method), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), temperature programmed desorption (NH3- and CO2-TPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP), thermal analysis (TGA/DTG) and Raman spectroscopy were used in order to determine textural, structural and other physicochemical properties of the catalytic materials, and the type of carbon deposited on the catalytic surface of spent samples. These techniques were used in an attempt to understand better the effects of WO3-induced modifications on the catalyst morphology, physicochemical properties and catalytic performance. Although Ni dispersion and reducibility characteristics were found superior on the modified Ni/WZr sample than that on Ni/Zr, its dry reforming of methane (DRM) performance was inferior; a result attributed to the enhanced acidity and complete loss of the basicity recorded on this catalyst, an effect that competes and finally overshadows the benefits of the other superior properties.