Assessment of Conversion Technologies for Bioalcohol Fuel ...

The slag leaves the gasifier and is quickly shock cooled to form a vitrified slag. The
company uses the syngas to make methanol.
Development Status–The solid bed gasification system operates at approximately
15 tons per hour. The Endrainet flow gasifier has a capacity of approximately 16.5
tons per hour. The BGL gasifier processes pre-treated solid waste at approximately
38.5 tons per hour. The company lists feedstocks able to be processed by its
technology as: wood, sewage sludge, domestic garbage, plastics, light shredded
materials, and other solid waste.
Future Plans–SVZ GmbH’s facility in Germany is being developed into a center for
industrial application and demonstration of innovative coal and waste gasification
technologies.
Syntec Biofuels, Inc., Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Organizational Background–Syntec Biofuels (Syntec) was established in 2001 at
the University of British Columbia. The company has since been developing catalysts
for conversion of ethanol using synthetic gas derived from renewal sources. For the
last 2 years, the Syntec research team has focused on developing new ethanol
catalysts that utilize base metal variants suitable for commercial deployment.
Technology Characteristics–The Syntec technology, depicted in Figure A5, utilizes
the thermochemical conversion of biomass to synthesis gas. The company integrates
other established processes to make syngas from biomass. The syngas can then be
catalyticaly converted to ethanol using Syntec’s proprietary catalyst. In 2004, Syntec
filed a patent for its first ethanol catalyst using precious metals. The fuel production
technology relies on low pressure catalytic technology, similar to what is being used in
the methanol industry.
Development Status–The Company has completed both concept and bench scale
testing of their technology. Initial experiments to prove out the technology were
carried out at lab facilities at the University of British Columbia through a service
contract in paralel with the company’sown facilities in Vancouver and later in
Burnaby. Syntec continues to test their technology at the pilot scale.
Future Plans–Syntec is in the process of establishing alliances with potential
strategic partners for feedstock, infrastructure, funding and a site for a demonstration
plant in the next 2 years. Syntec has filed several patents and expects to fully
commercialize their product within three years.
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