An analysis of waste/biomass gasification producing hydrogen-rich syngas: A review

Abstract

In the last few decades, the population growth level has increased exponentially so the waste disposal level has increased gradually. Wastes like biodegradable wastes, kitchen wastes, hotel wastes, and other agro wastes can be processed through bio methanation and composting technology but non-biodegradable materials like plastics, rubber, industrial sludge, and other wastes cannot be processed in simple ways or technologies. These wastes are critical to handle and need robust technology. Gasification and incinerators are a technology to utilize these waste materials and convert them into useful energy. However, the incinerator has a drawback of control over emissions generated by waste material combustion. Gasification is the best-suited technology which can convert the waste material into gaseous form and this gas provides heat to the prime movers to generate energy/power. Carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen are the main components of synthetic gas (syngas), which has a low calorific value. Increased hydrogen and carbon monoxide concentrations improve this gas's calorific value. Different gasification methods like gasification using agent as steam, catalytic gasification, and gasification using different combination of fuels (waste-coal/biomass) are used to enrich the hydrogen content of the syngas. This paper reviewed the theory of waste-to-energy technologies, incineration technology, gasification technology, methods for increasing hydrogen in syngas, also different methods. This review discusses waste gasification disposal methods and hydrogen enrichment.