Biomass Conversion to Synthetic Gasoline System

This project sought to develop a biomass conversion to synthetic gasoline system that produces gasoline from cellulosic biomass at less than $2 per gallon and with a carbon intensity of less than 30 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule. The research team achieved the project goals by demonstrating that the fuel cost for a 3,000-barrels-per-day plant is less than $2 per gallon, and the plant is economical based on the return on investment. At a sales price of $3.5/gal gasoline, the internal rate of return on equity varies between 30 percent to 45 percent, depending on the biomass feedstock price. The well-to-wake life-cycle analysis showed that the biomass conversion to synthetic gasoline system biogasoline carbon footprint is negative. This value should be compared with the carbon footprint of the petroleum gasoline. A key achievement under this project was to develop a catalyst that operates at relatively low pressure and produces a fuel with a similar distillation curve and carbon number distribution to those of commercial gasoline. The catalyst was demonstrated in a fuel production reactor with 1-barrel-per-day gasoline production capability.