CO2-negative biomass conversion: An economic route with co-production of green hydrogen and highly porous carbon. (1st April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Li; Jiang, Peng; Qian, Hongliang; Mu, Liwen; Lu, Xiaohua; Zhu, Jiahua
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 311(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04-01
• Subjects: Biomass -- Chemical looping -- Atomic economy -- Process simulation -- Techno-economic analysis; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.118685
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Efficient process converts biomass C&H elements into H2 and activated carbon. Coupled chemical looping and biochar activation reduces CO2 emission. Chemical looping process realizes both CO2 separation and H2 enrichment. CO2 internal utilization realizes AC valorization and negative CO2 emission. Practical techno-economic evaluation with combined experimental and simulation approach. Abstract: The global consensus of carbon neutralization calls for new ideas of CO2 capture, conversion and utilization, especially CO2 -negative technologies. In this work, a CO2 -negative process was developed to convert three different types of biomass species into valuable products, green hydrogen and activated carbon (AC). Four reaction modules including pyrolysis, activation, flue gas reforming, and chemical looping were integrated and balanced in terms of mass and energy. After optimization, green H2 with up to 95.54% purity can be produced with price as low as $3.10/kg. The solid AC product can fix 10–20 wt% of carbon element from biomass to achieve a similar proportion of reduced CO2 emission. Part of the separated CO2 can be reused in the activation process and converted to CO product for internal use. Overall, this process demonstrates an economic route for biomass conversion with the co-production of green hydrogen and value-added AC products. Moreover, CO2 -negative emission is also realized.