Catalytic Upgrading of Clean Biogas to Synthesis Gas

Abstract

Clean biogas, produced by anaerobic digestion of biomasses or organic wastes, is one of the most promising substitutes for natural gas. After its purification, it can be valorized through different reforming processes that convert CH4 and CO2 into synthesis gas (a mixture of CO and H2). However, these processes have many issues related to the harsh conditions of reaction used, the high carbon formation rate and the remarkable endothermicity of the reforming reactions. In this context, the use of the appropriate catalyst is of paramount importance to avoid deactivation, to deal with heat issues and mild reaction conditions and to attain an exploitable syngas composition. The development of a catalyst with high activity and stability can be achieved using different active phases, catalytic supports, promoters, preparation methods and catalyst configurations. In this paper, a review of the recent findings in biogas reforming is presented. The different elements that compose the catalytic system are systematically reviewed with particular attention on the new findings that allow to obtain catalysts with high activity, stability, and resistance towards carbon formation.

Unraveling Temperature-Dependent Plasma-Catalyzed CO2 Hydrogenation

“…This is because the reverse water–gas shift reaction, which produces CO, becomes more favorable at higher temperatures. In addition, catalyst deactivation caused by coke formation on the catalyst surface is a well-known problem, especially under high-temperature conditions. , As a result, hydrogenation of CO 2 at low temperatures is preferable. Nonthermal plasma (NTP) is a promising way to achieve optimal CO 2 hydrogenation performance by lowering the reaction temperature while boosting the CH 4 yield and CO 2 conversion.…”

A techno-economic assessment methodology for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates and ectoine from biogas in waste treatment plants

“…In the last decade, biogas reforming has gained attention as an alternative valorization pathway able to extract the whole biogas energy potential in the form of environmentally-friendly fuels. Biogas reforming aims at the transformation of biogas CH4/CO2 mixtures into synthesis gas or syngas, a gas typically formed by 40-70 %v•v -1 H2, 15-25 %v•v -1, CO and 1-2 % v•v -1 CO2 (Schiaroli et al, 2022). The syngas produced can be further use as a H2-rich stream in fuel cells for the production of electricity, converted into bio-diesel and bio-gasoline through Fischer-Tropsch processes, used as platform chemical in the methanol manufacturing or transformed into higher alcohols via fermentation (Kapoor et al, 2020).…”