The project's initial phase was spent identifying resources, conducting preliminary experiments, defining the base case, and creating simulation models. The resources included black liquor, bark, and rejects like plastics and deinking sludge from the paper recycling industry.
Effort was devoted to resource analysis and preparation. Entrained flow gasifiers require a free flowing powder, but initial CEA injection experiments revealed difficulties with ground bark due to strong cohesion. Bark, being a low-density, fibrous, and ash-rich material, doesn't easily produce the necessary powder, which was only obtained after significant sieving loss.
Despite these challenges, the first entrained flow gasification experiment at CEA demonstrated efficient ash management in this reactor, yielding good quality syngas from bark. A new injection system is being designed to allow for better gasification yield from bark.
Work at the ETC's fixed bed gasifier started. To accommodate longer experiments and handle the high ash volume, a new ash extraction unit for the reactor is being planned.
Initial experiments revealed the possibility of producing hydrogen-rich syngas from black liquor using supercritical water gasification. However, it also exposed technical issues relating to the management of inorganic species and carbon conversion. Research is ongoing into the conversion chemistry of black liquor and inorganic species management.
Gas conditioning is defined, considering the constraints of the pulp process. Experimental work on syngas conditioning via water-gas-shift started. Preliminary tests have been done on reactor units using a Cobalt-based reference catalyst. The team is preparing to scale up a 2-stage reactor unit for synthesizing the necessary fuel volumes for mild hydrocracking.
Regarding process design and evaluation, the base case scenario was identified. The first process flow diagrams were created. Initial simulation results and process evaluations led to two publications. The project has been presented to the Advisory Board and at several scientific conferences.