Evaluation of performance of copper converter slag as oxygen carrier in chemical-looping combustion (CLC)

Abstract

In this study, copper converter slag sample was utilized as oxygen carrier (OC) for Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) of synthetic syngas. The CLC cycles were substantiated in a bench-scale fluidized bed reactor by altering the inlet atmosphere between fuel and air consecutively. The tests were conducted at 4 times the minimum fluidization velocity, and 1123 K (850 °C) reduction half-cycle temperature (TRHC) for 50 cycles. The mean fuel gas conversion values obtained during 30 s of RHC time (tRHC) were as; 78% for 1:1 CO in nitrogen, 84–89% for syngas, and 97% for 1:1 H2 in nitrogen. Copper converter slag sample was stable and sufficiently reactive throughout the tests, moreover, the reactivity increased substantially by the consecutive CLC cycles. The increase of the porosity and the formation of the copper ferrite during the CLC cycles were found to be the main contributors to the activation of the copper converter slag. It is concluded that the evaluation of copper converter slag in the CLC process is both an economical option for OC supply (especially in coal-fueled CLC processes where some OC loss is inevitable), and an environmentally favorable alternative for recycling copper converter slag unless wasting the precious metals in it.