Evaluation of Physical and Chemical Properties of Residue from Gasification of Biomass Wastes

Abstract

Thermochemical conversion of biomass waste is a high potential option for increasing usage of renewable energy sources and transferring wastes into the circular economy. This work focuses on the evaluation of the energetic and adsorption properties of solid residue (char) of the gasification process. Gasification experiments of biomass wastes (wheat straw, hay and pine sawdust) were carried out in a vertical fixed bed reactor, under a CO2 atmosphere and at various temperatures (800, 900 and 1000 °C). The analysis of the energy properties of the obtained chars included elemental and thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis. TGA results indicated that the chars have properties similar to those of coal; subjected data were used to calculate key combustion parameters. As part of the analysis of adsorption properties, BET, SEM, FTIR and dynamic methanol vapor sorption tests were conducted. The specific surface area has risen from 0.42–1.91 m2/g (biomass) to 419–891 m2/g (char). FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the influence of gasification on the decomposition of characteristic chemical compounds for biomass. Methanol sorption has revealed for the 900 °C chars of pine sawdust the highest sorption capacity and its mass change was 24.15% at P/P0 = 90%. Selected chars might be an appropriate material for volatile organic compounds sorption.