Hydrocarbons from synthesis gas

Abstracts Synthesis gas (also referred to as syngas) is the name given to a gas mixture that contains varying amounts of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) generated by the gasification of a carbonaceous material. Examples include steam reforming of natural gas, crude oil residua, coal, and biomass. Synthesis gas is used as an intermediate in producing hydrocarbon derivatives via the Fischer-Tropsch process for use as fuels. Gasification to produce synthesis gas can proceed from almost all carbonaceous organic materials such as coal, crude oil residua, as well as biomass and plastic waste. The resulting synthesis gas burns cleanly into water vapor and carbon dioxide. This chapter presents the methods by which synthesis gas can be produced from any hydrocarbon feedstock. These include natural gas, naphtha, residual oil, crude oil coke, coal, and biomass. In fact, as the move to a bio-based economy (also known as a bioeconomy) continues understanding mechanisms and processing of synthesis gas from various sources will assist in the improvement of the relevant industrial processes. Briefly, the bio-based economy uses first-generation biomass (such as crops), second-generation biomass (such as crop refuge), and third-generation biomass (such as seaweed, algae). Several methods of processing are then used (in a biorefinery) to gather the most out of the biomass. This includes techniques such as (i) pyrolysis, (ii) fermentation, (iii) anaerobic digestion, and (iv) torrefaction.