“We must judge of a form of government by it's general tendency, not by happy accidents” -- Thomas Babington Macaulay (English Historian, 1800-1859)
I rediscovered the U.S. Department of Energy Fossil Energy R&D Project Data Base (http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/projectdatabase/index.html) by a happy accident. While Googling® “conversion/extraction desulfurization” I ran across the following Project Fact Sheet. It looked interesting. I thought there might be other interesting projects in the pipeline. So I added the Fossil Energy R&D Project Data Base to my deli.cio.us bookmarks for future reference.
///////
United States Department of Energy
Office of Fossil Energy
Project Fact Sheet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Project Information
Project ID: DE-FC26-02NT15340
Project Title: Biocatalyst Desulfurization
FE Program: Gas/Oil - Drilling, Completion and Stimulation
Research Type: Applied Research
Funding Memorandum: Cooperative Agree't (nonCCT) - Tech R&D
Project Performer
Performer Type: Small Business
Performer: Petro Star Inc.
3900 C Street
Suite 401
Project Team Members:
Project Location
City: Anchorage
State: Alaska
Zip Code: 99503-5966
Congressional District: 01
Responsible FE Site: NETL
Project Point of Contact
Name: Boltz, James F.
Telephone: (907) 339-6614
Fax Number: (907) 349-1377
Email Address: JFBoltz@petro-star.com
Fossil Energy Point of Contact
Name: West, Paul A.
Telephone: (918) 699-2035
Location: NETL
Email Address: Paul.West@netl.doe.gov
Project Dates
Start Date: 06/30/2002
End Date: 12/30/2005
Contract Specialist
Name: Jaskolka, Donna J.
Telephone: (412) 386-6106
Cost & Funding Information
Total Est. Cost: $6,618,844
DOE Share: $5,295,075
Non DOE Share: $1,323,769
Project Description
Petro Star has requested a change in the scope of work for their BDS project. In the original project plan, Petro Star intended to use BDS, alone or in combination with their CED process (which was being developed in another DOE project), to remove sulfur from diesel fuel. At that time, the goal was to reduce the level of sulfur in diesel fuel to 500 ppm using biodesulfurization alone. Since the original proposal was written, two things have changed. " The CED process was found to lack economic viability; work was discontinued. " The 500 ppm target is insufficient to meet EPA mandated sulfur levels of 15 ppm. Therefore, Petro Star has proposed that the CED related task be eliminated and that the target for sulfur be lowered to the 15 ppm required by EPA. They propose to use BDS in combination with hydrotreating. If BDS can be used to reduce the sulfur compounds most resistant to hydrotreating, less severe processing conditions can be used to meet the 15 ppm sulfur requirement. The researchers have found that there are changes that could help them achieve the goal of developing a viable process that Petro Star, a small Alaskan refinery, can use to meet current diesel standards most efficiently.
Project Background
Petro Star, Inc. Biodesulfurization Project Petro Star, Inc. (a subsidiary of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation) runs two small refineries in Alaska (http://www.petro-star.com ). These refineries produce kerosene, diesel and jet fuels. Because of concerns over air pollution EPA has imposed limits on the sulfur levels in diesel fuel. Even relatively complex refineries will have some difficulty meeting the required level, but small refineries without hydrotreating capability are face even more challenges. There is not a readily identified, economical process that can help them achieve the low sulfur levels that will soon be required. Petro Star has developed two processes that they believe will help them reduce the sulfur content in their diesel. One of them is biodesulfurization and the other is a chemical process, Conversion Extraction Desulfurization (CED). The chemical process produces an extract that needs to be treated; biochemical treatment is viewed as an option for the extract. This bioprocessing project has two objectives. The first objective is to 1) develop a biocatalyst that will remove a large portion of the sulfur in diesel fuel at commercially acceptable rates and 2) develop design specifications and a cost estimate for a 5,000 bpd biodesulfurization demonstration unit.
Project Milestones
This information is currently unavailable.
Project Accomplishments
Title: BDS with Hydrotreated Diesel
Date: 02/16/2005
Description Several biocatalysts have been tested for their activitiy in partially treated diesel fuel. The compounds containing dibenzothiophene are generally the hardest to remove with hydrotreating, so these have been the focus of much of Diversa's efforts. They have found that that virtually all of the DBTs can be removed after 22 hours. However, other sulfur spiecies survive both treatments. Catalyst development is still in process.
Title: Diesel Hydrotreating Completed
Date: 02/28/2004
Description Generate hydrotreated petro Star diesel for use in the characterization of biocatalyst strains. both moderate (300-500 ppm S) and deep (10-50 ppm S) hydrotreated diesels will be generated. As part of the work that Petro Star is doing for the biodesulfurization project, they have hydrotreated their diesel at PARC Technical Services. The products and approximate volumes of thepilot plant run were: *12.5 gallons of 43ppm diesel *11.5 gallons of 418ppm diesel *14 gallons of 1746ppm diesel This work will help them to determine the exact components they need to treat and help evaluate the amount of hydrotreating necessary to reach low sulfur levels. This can be used in the economic evaluation of the work that is being done.
Title: Project Kickoff
Date: 02/18/2003
Description All of the participants who will be contributing to this effort met in San Diego on November 13, 2003. All aspects of the project were discussed to ensure that all efforts can be focussed on project objectives.
source: http://www.fe.doe.gov/fred/factsheet.jsp?doc=3212&projtitle=Biocatalyst%20Desulfurization
///////
Visit Jean’s deli.cio.us bookmarks at: http://delicious.com/jeansteinhardt
No comments:
Post a Comment