Stoffliche, energetische und ökologische bewertung einer prozesskette zur herstellung von synthetischen biokraftstoffen

The manufacture of synthetic biomass motor fuels (biomass-to-liquid, BtL motor fuels) can be arranged in a process chain of biomass pretreatment, gasification, gas cleaning and conditioning, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and end product finishing. In looking at a large scale actualization, a number of process alternatives and variants are possible. To determine an advantageous process configuration, besides a purely economic consideration, material, energy, and ecological balances are needed. Detailed material and energy balances of various processes and variants can be compared in the same way. Such a balancing is made with the aid of the ASPEN Plus flowsheet simulation system. To also include the ecological issue, environmental effects such as the greenhouse potential or acidification potential are calculated. Thereby the entire process chain is considered from biomass collection and preparation to transport to the facility, motor fuel manufacture, and transport to the service station and to use in the vehicle. The results are compared with the manufacture of conventional motor fuels. This study was part of a research project "Designer Motor Fuels from Biomass on the Path of the Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis" supported by the State Foundation of Baden-Württemberg.