Methanol from biomass draws closer to market

Abstract

A number of projects are under way in the U.S. and abroad that use biomass as a feedstock for the manufacture of fuel-grade methanol. Most of them are based existing technology. And the key to their success will be commercial demonstration. One such project, now in the design stage, is scheduled to be the first commercial, wood-based, liquid fuels production facility in New England. It is being built in a joint program by Evergreen Energy Corp., Waltham, Mass., and Texaco Development Corp. and will adapt Texaco's high-pressure coal gasification system to accept wood as a feedstock. According to William A. Stevenson, president of Evergreen, the only thing left to do is find the best way to gasify the wood; the rest of the technology is on the shelf. The proposed plant would produce 330,000 gal per day of methanol from 3500 tons per day of green wood chips with complete environmental compatibility. Overall efficiency ...