Integration to End Products
Conditioned syngas can then be upgraded into a variety of valuable end products. Our systems upgrade the syngas by removing contaminants to very low levels, compressing the gas, and converting it into various products depending on the project.
Products
Renewable Natural Gas: RNG is produced by Frontline’s Biomass-into-Natural-Gas™ (BING™) process which integrates Frontline’s gasification and gas conditioning technologies with catalytic methanation and carbon dioxide removal. The syngas is cleaned extensively and later upgraded to renewable natural gas and carbon dioxide. This integrated process produces natural gas from biomass more efficiently than any other cellulosic biofuel process available.
The RNG produced is virtually indistinguishable from natural gas that is currently in the national pipeline system. New technologies are enabling RNG to be used as a transportation fuel. RNG excels at being a transportation fuel because it:
- has a very low carbon intensity
- can be cleaner than electric vehicles when combined with Ultra-Low NOx engines
- is a drop-in equivalent to compressed natural gas
Renewable Chemicals: Frontline syngas can also be used to produce a variety of chemicals like ethanol, DME, and methanol. Frontline designs systems with commercially available conversion technologies or collaborates with companies that have unique or patented technologies for these conversion processes. These renewable products have wide-ranging uses. For instance, methanol is used as an intermediate chemical for many industrial processes such as:
- acetic acid production
- formaldehyde production (used in production of many household products)
- dimethyl ether production (commonly used as a fuel)
- bio-diesel production
Renewable Hydrogen: Frontline can also produce renewable hydrogen which has a carbon intensity as low as -150gCO2e/MJ in new fuel-cell powered vehicles. Using this hydrogen in electric vehicles results in no tailpipe emissions. Automotive companies like Toyota, Nikola, and Nissan already use hydrogen fuel cells for cleaner vehicles.
Other Products
Electric Power Generation: Our process can also supply power to internal combustion engines, combustion turbines, utility boilers, and high-pressure steam turbines to produce electricity.
Industrial Heat: The gasification process produces heat that can be used as an alternative to fossil fuels in industrial processes. Distributing this heat allows multiple appliances to run at once.
Coproducts
Biochar: An inorganic (non-carbon-based compounds) fraction of the feedstock and some unconverted carbon, exits the gasifier as a valuable biochar product. Biochar has many potential uses including:
- Fertilizer, compost ingredient, or soil amendment – Biochar has been shown to improve soil characteristics such as boosted water retention and slower nutrient release.
- Filtration component – Due to its high absorption capacity, biochar can be used as a component in some filtration systems.
- Renewable fuel – Biochar can be combusted to provide heat for processes such as cement production.
Water: Gasification also produces high-quality water that can be used for irrigation and to recharge groundwater ponds.