Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

"The noncatalytic reformation of glycerin in supercritical water was studied in a Haynes 282 tubular reactor. In order to determine which parameters were the most influential, a 2³ experimental matrix was conducted, with temperatures of 500 and 700⁰C, water/glycerin molar ratios of 3:1 and 13:1, and residence times of 30 and 90 seconds, all at a pressure of 24 MPa. It was found that temperature had the largest effect on the two gasification parameters deemed most important, gasification percentage and hydrogen yield. Based on this, the effect of temperature was further investigated by looking at 5⁰C intervals from 500 to 800⁰C. From this it was determined that a temperature of 700 to 750⁰C was most conducive to glycerin reformation. The results were compared to equilibrium, as calculated by Gibbs free energy minimization. It was found that at temperatures from 750⁰C to 800⁰C; most of the results were at equilibrium. Based on this, kinetic models were developed for experiments not in equilibrium. The first model is a pseudo first order model of the gasification, which compares favorably with other studies. The second kinetic model takes into account the carbon containing gaseous species. Three reactions are used to model the gaseous products: Complete gasification of the glycerin into carbon monoxide and hydrogen, water gas shift of the resulting carbon monoxide, and a reaction in which glycerin and hydrogen combine to produce methane. Other reaction pathways were tested, and they either did not fit the data as well, or were thermodynamically impossible. The reactions are also capable of predicting hydrogen production for most conditions"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Ludlow, Douglas K.
Lee, Sunggyu

Committee Member(s)

Xing, Yangchuan
Retzloff, David
Sheffield, John W.

Department(s)

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Degree Name

Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s)

United States. Department of Education. Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need
United States. Department of the Air Force

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Spring 2012

Pagination

xii, 233 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 203-232).

Rights

© 2012 Jason Wade Picou, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Biomass gasification
Glycerin -- Reactivity
Kinetic theory of liquids
Supercritical fluids
Synthesis gas

Thesis Number

T 10010

Print OCLC #

815749334

Electronic OCLC #

793599937

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