A Systematic Investigation into the Hydrothermal Degradation of Biomass as an Alternative Hydrocarbon Fuel Source
Department
Chemistry
Major
Chemical Engineering
Research Advisor
Woelk, Klaus
Advisor's Department
Chemistry
Funding Source
Missouri S&T Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE) Program; MS&T Energy Research and Development Center
Abstract
Biomass is viewed as a renewable and carbon-efficient energy source, and multiple procedures have been designed to harness the energy stored in these molecules. In this study, the mechanism of hydrothermal biomass degradation to form valuable synthetic-fuel precursor molecules was investigated. Using D-glucose as the model substrate, hydrothermal degradation experiments were conducted in a glass pressure vessel with samples taken periodically at a reaction temperature of 150°C. The primary reaction products are 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), formic acid (FA), 4-oxopentoic acid (levulenic acid or LA), and methane, as identified quantitatively by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. As a continuation of a previous project, this study determined the effect of various catalysts on the formation of the degradation products in an attempt to identify methods of maximizing the formation of 5-HMF, the more valuable precursor chemical for synthetic fuel production, while minimizing FA and LA. The unprecedented formation of methane is also being investigated to determine its mechanism of production during the hydrothermal degradation reaction. Furthermore, it is the goal of this project to investigate the reduction of 5-HMF via electrolysis in order to demonstrate complete production of synthetic fuel.
Biography
Nathan Carter is a senior in Chemical Engineering at Missouri S&T from St. Louis, MO. Upon his graduation in May 2010, Nathan will have earned minors in Spanish, Chemistry, and Physics, and will have participated in the equivalent of more than 10 semesters of undergraduate research in the areas of renewable alternative fuels and polymers for biomedical devices. Nathan’s work experience includes a summer 2009 internship at Williams Energy Services in Tulsa, OK, and one year as the Head Peer Learning Assistant for the Missouri S&T Learning Enhancement Across Disciplines (LEAD) program. In addition, Nathan will spend the summer of 2010 as a Research Engineer Intern at Argonne National Laboratory before beginning graduate school in the fall to pursue a PhD in Chemical Engineering. Nathan has held numerous leadership positions during his undergraduate tenure and is a member of the Missouri S&T inline hockey team.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Document Type
Presentation
Award
Sciences oral presentation, First place
Location
Carver Room
Presentation Date
07 Apr 2010, 9:00 am - 9:30 am
A Systematic Investigation into the Hydrothermal Degradation of Biomass as an Alternative Hydrocarbon Fuel Source
Carver Room
Biomass is viewed as a renewable and carbon-efficient energy source, and multiple procedures have been designed to harness the energy stored in these molecules. In this study, the mechanism of hydrothermal biomass degradation to form valuable synthetic-fuel precursor molecules was investigated. Using D-glucose as the model substrate, hydrothermal degradation experiments were conducted in a glass pressure vessel with samples taken periodically at a reaction temperature of 150°C. The primary reaction products are 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), formic acid (FA), 4-oxopentoic acid (levulenic acid or LA), and methane, as identified quantitatively by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. As a continuation of a previous project, this study determined the effect of various catalysts on the formation of the degradation products in an attempt to identify methods of maximizing the formation of 5-HMF, the more valuable precursor chemical for synthetic fuel production, while minimizing FA and LA. The unprecedented formation of methane is also being investigated to determine its mechanism of production during the hydrothermal degradation reaction. Furthermore, it is the goal of this project to investigate the reduction of 5-HMF via electrolysis in order to demonstrate complete production of synthetic fuel.
Comments
Joint project with Megan Oldroyd