We've recently been focusing on the potential of liquefying the "lignin" component of woody biomass, in combination with coal, to both increase the potential volume of liquid fuel production and to provide an inherent route of Carbon Dioxide recycling.
A number of researchers, as we've documented, have clearly demonstrated that cellulose, which comprises, roughly, 50% of the mass of wood, can be converted synergistically with coal into liquid fuel compounds.
Confirming a few citations we've already brought to your attention, the enclosed report from Southern Illinois University, who, again as we've reported, have been working to refine some processes of coal liquefaction, shows again that lignin, which can account for up to 30% of woody biomass, can be liquefied along with coal. Like other reports, it demonstrates that, not only can lignin be liquefied with coal, it actually enhances, or improves, the efficiency of the process.
Comment follows the excerpt:
Title: Lignin-assisted coal depolymerization. Technical report, December 1, 1991--February 29, 1992
Author: Lalvani, S.B.
Date: August 1, 1992
Report Number: DOE/PC/91334--T62; DOE Contract Number: FG22-91PC91334
Research Organization: Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale, IL . Dept. of Mechanical Engineering and Energy Processes
Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC;Illinois Dept. of Energy and Natural Resources, Springfield, IL
Abstract:
Previous research has shown that addition of lignin and lignin-derived liquids to coal stirred in tetralin under mild reaction conditions (375{degrees}C and 300--500 psig) results in a marked enhancement in the rate of coal depolymerization. In this quarterly report, overall mass balances on experiments conducted with tetralin, coal, lignin and coal-lignin mixture are reported. Overall mass recoveries of 95--99% of the total mass charged to the reactor were obtained. A number of experiments were conducted on coal, lignin and coal-lignin depolymerization. A careful statistical analysis of the data shows that coal depolymerization is enhanced by 10.4%, due to the lignin addition. The liquids obtained are being examined for their elemental composition, and molecular weight determination by size exclusion chromatography. The stability of the liquid products is being examined in various environments. The gaseous product analyses show that the major gases produced during the course of depolymerization are CO, CH{sub 4}, and CO{sub 2}. When coal and lignin are reacted together, the amount of CO and CH{sub 4}produced respectively 12% and 38% greater than the corresponding amount of gases calculated, based on the weighted average of values obtained for coal and lignin alone. The data obtained show that lignin addition to coal is synergistic in that not only is the extent of coal depolymerization increased, but the gas produced contains higher concentrations of more desirable gaseous products."
First of all, they were using the hydrogen-donor solvent, tetralin, in this work. That relates it to WVU's "West Virginia Process" for coal liquefaction, which China, as we have earlier and substantively documented, is attempting to hijack via US and International patent filings.
Notably, confirming other research we've reported, utilizing the carbon-recycling lignin in a coal liquefaction process "results in a marked enhancement in the rate of coal depolymerization", with "mass recoveries of 95--99% of the total mass charged to the reactor".
In other words, combining carbon-recycling lignin with coal can result in a nearly 100% rate of liquefaction.
Recycling CO2 by liquefying coal with lignin results in a production of liquid fuel precursors up to "38% greater than the ... average of values obtained for coal and lignin alone. The data obtained show that lignin addition to coal is synergistic ... the extent of coal depolymerization increased ... (and) the gas produced contains higher concentrations of more desirable gaseous products."
And, again, we recycle Carbon Dioxide. That makes it all sound even "more desirable", doesn't it?