Kinetic models of simple alcohols SCWG

In the process of real biomass supercritical water gasification (SCWG), process parameters such as temperature, pressure and space time have significant influence on the product composition together with the properties of feedstock being thermally decomposed. To exactly understand this process and for further design of reaction systems, it is necessary to develop an integral kinetic model including the kinetic equation for feed consumption, gas product production and the ability to describe the formation and consumption of intermediates causing technological problems. The entire process of real biomass gasification is quite complicated in terms of reactions pathways; however, the rate determining step is often the gasification reaction of simple organic compounds such as alcohols and carboxylic acids. In our work, experiments were done and kinetic models of methanol, ethanol and isopropanol gasification in supercritical water were determined. The feed concentration ranged between 5 and 45 wt% for methanol, 5–30 wt% for ethanol, 5–10 wt% for isopropanol. The temperature ranged from 620 to 820 °C. The pyrolysis reaction and the water gas shift reaction showed the main influence on product composition, while the effect of steam reforming reactions can be neglected in case of ethanol and isopropanol.