Assessment of Conversion Technologies for Bioalcohol Fuel ...

and CO at the compression stage. The nearly complete conversion of the methanol to
ethanol may require recycling up to 7 or 8 times.
Development Status–The Pearson technology is currently operational at the pilot
scale stage at the company’s facility located at the Aberdeen, MS industrial park. The
pilot plants have a nominal capacity for processing 30 tons of biomass per day.
Among the feedstocks tested to date at the facility are rice straw from the Gridley,
California area, and mesquite wood from Texas. A February 2005 report by TSS
Consultants, sponsored by U.S. DOE/NREL (2005) examines the Pearson technology
in detail for potential application to the proposed Gridley Ethanol Project.
Future Plans–Pearson continues to pursue applications of its technology in various
proposed projects in a number of U.S. states, including Mississippi, Texas, California
and Hawaii.
Figure A2. Pearson Technologies Process Flow Diagram
Pearson Bioenergy Technologies, Inc., all rights reserved
Power Energy Fuels, Inc., Lakewood, Colorado
Organizational Background–Power Energy Fuels, Inc. (PEFI) was formed in 1996
as a Nevada Corporation. The company has a licensing agreement with
PowerEnerCat, Inc. for the exclusive worldwide rights to the Ecalene process. Ecalene
is a mixed alcohol, comprised of ethanol, methanol, butanol, propanol, hexanol and
other alcohols.
Technology Characteristics–PEFI is developing its own downdraft gasifier, which
produces the low BTU syngas needed for production of Ecalene. The gasifier is
planned to accept up to 300 tons per day with approximately 30% moisture content.
The company has integrated the gasification process into the Ecalene process, called
the Power Energy System. The process, illustrated in Figure A3, employs a
proprietary catalyst. The company also is able to work with other gasification vendors
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