Waste furniture gasification using rice husk based char catalysts for enhanced hydrogen generation

Abstract

Present study provides biohydrogen production methods from waste furniture via catalytic steam gasification with bio-char catalysts (raw char, KOH-activated char and steam-activated char). Total gas yield for the prepared chars was in the order of KOH-activated char > steam-activated char > raw char, whereas, H2 selectivity was in the sequence of raw char > steam-activated char > KOH-activated char. Though KOH-activated char showed the highest gas yield, highest H2 selectivity was obtained at the gasification experiment with raw char due to the large amount of Ca and K and its reasonable surface area (146.89 m2/g). Although the activation of raw biochar results in the increase of gas yield, it has the negative effect on H2 generation due to the removal of alkali and alkaline earth metals for the KOH activated char and steam-activated char. This study shows that raw bio-char could be a potential solution for eco-friendly hydrogen production.