Abstract

Hydrogen production is provided via integrated closed-loop processing of landfill gas (LFG) and solid biomass feedstocks such as various agricultural wastes with minimal environmental impact. LFG is purified of harmful contaminants over a bed of activated charcoal (AC) and is catalytically reformed to synthesis gas, which is further processed to pure hydrogen via CO-shift and pressure-swing adsorption stages. Biomass is gasified in the presence of steam with production of a producer gas and AC. The producer gas is mixed with LFG and is processed to hydrogen as described above. High-surface area AC produced in the gasifier is used for the purification of both LFG and producer gas. An integrated processing of LFG and biomass offers a number of advantages such as a high overall energy efficiency, feedstock flexibility, substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and production of value-added product-biocarbon that can be used as a soil enhancer.

Document Type

Patent

Patent Number

US 7,691,182

Application Serial Number

11/637,552

Issue Date

4-6-2010

Current Assignee

UCFRF

Assignee at Issuance

UCFRF

College

Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC)

Department

FSEC

Allowance Date

8-28-2009

Filing Date

12-12-2006

Assignee at Filing

UCFRF

Filing Type

Nonprovisional Application Record

Donated

no

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