This research area studies processes aimed at obtaining fuels and/or renewable chemical products from the thermochemical conversion of biomass (gasification). To this end, the group makes use of complementary approaches, such as the analysis of processes on computers and the evaluation of synthesis catalysts in a laboratory (see presentation). The laboratory data allows for the characterization of the synthesis catalysts to feedback into the simulations and optimize the process.
Most of the research has been focused on the production of bioethanol via catalytic synthesis using syngas from biomass gasification. This research started in 2004 with the RENEW project and continued with I+DEA and BIOCOMB projects. Also the production of ethanol by hydrogenation of carbon dioxide from fermentors of conventional ethanol plants was studied in the SOST-CO2 project.
In the BIOSOS project the scope was expanded beyond ethanol and the production of others biofuels and bioproducts are studied, such as methanol, DME, SNG, FT-diesel, and also bio-olefins and bio-gasoline via MTO and MTG routes, respectively. In addition alternative routes for the production of ethanol are studied, such as DME hydrocarbonylation, acetic acid hydrogenation and fermentation of syngas.
Finally, in the projects Bio-AndaluS and Biodiene new catalytic pathways are investigated to transform ethanol into added-value bioproducts, such as biobutanol and 1,3-butadiene, respectively.