Syngas Production from Biomass Gasification Using Copper Slag Catalysts

Abstract

Catalytic gasification of sawdust biomass was carried out using a specially designed flow-type double beds micro reactor in a two step process: temperature programmed non-catalytic air gasification of biomass was performed in the first bed at 800°C followed by catalytic decomposition gasification of volatile matters (including tars) in the second bed at five different temperatures. The general observation is that the conversion of sawdust biomass increases as the temperature was raised from 750 to 950°C over non-catalyst, raw copper slag or calcined copper slag. High temperature enhances secondary cracking and reforming of tars and heavy hydrocarbons. At the temperature of 950°C, the energy yield (Ey) was 13.2 MJ gas/kg biomass; The energy conversion efficiency (Eff) was 81.05%; The H2 production was 0.0296 kg/kg biomass; The CO production was 0.6685 kg/kg biomass. Furthermore, improvement in conversion of biomass is observed when copper slag is added in secondary reactor as catalysts. The use of copper slag as catalysts significantly contributes to tar conversion in lighter hydrocarbons.