Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Synergy of steam reforming and K2CO3 modification on wood biomass pyrolysis

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Cellulose Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the synergistic effects of K2CO3 and steam reforming in the gasification process of woody biomass for hydrogen production. The experiment was carried out in a fixed-bed reactor with a continuous feeding system to investigate the effect of steam to biomass (S/B) molar ratio (0–0.4), K2CO3 loading amount (0–10 wt%) and reaction temperature (650–850 °C) as three main factors. The experimental results clearly indicated that both S/B and K2CO3 loadings promoted hydrogen production which could reach from 56 to 66% progressively as temperature increased from 650 to 750 °C, the role of potassium carbonate was mainly to change the path of catalytic cracking of tar and reduce the carbon deposit on the surface of the catalyst. While the role of water vapor mainly promoted shifting the reforming reaction in the direction of hydrogen generation. In addition, the water vapor itself could react with carbon to generate more hydrogen. The synergy of K2CO3 modification and steam reforming alleviated the deposited char and changed the components of tar simultaneously, and the optimum value for hydrogen production was acquired with 7.5% K2CO3 loading biomass while the value of S/B was 0.3 as the result of K2CO3 modification. The yield of rich-hydrogen syngas at 650 °C was similar with that of 850 °C, which evidenced that K2CO3 promoted the cracking of biomass at the low temperature region. It was concluded that K2CO3 modification of wood biomass with steam reforming promoted the hydrogen production and changed the path of catalytic cracking of tar and reduced the carbon deposit on the surface of the catalyst.

Graphical abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arregi A, Amutio M, Lopez G, Bilbao J, Olazar M (2018) Evaluation of thermochemical routes for hydrogen production from biomass: a review. Energy Convers Manag 165:696–719

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ayhan D (2000) Biomass resources facilities and biomass conversion processing for fuels and chemicals. Energy Convers Manag 42:1357–1378

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen H, Chen X, Qiao Z, Liu H (2016) Release and transformation characteristics of K and Cl during straw torrefaction and mild pyrolysis. Fuel 167:31–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chum HL, Overend RP (2001) Biomass and renewable fuels. Fuel Process Technol 71:187–195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deng L, Ye J, Jin X, Che D (2018) Transformation and release of potassium during fixed-bed pyrolysis of biomass. J Energy Inst 91(4):630–637

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dupont C, Jacob S, Marrakchy KO, Hognon C, Grateau M, Labalette F, Da Silva Perez D (2016) How inorganic elements of biomass influence char steam gasification kinetics. Energy 109:430–435

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eri Q, Zhao X, Ranganathan P, Gu S (2017) Numerical simulations on the effect of potassium on the biomass fast pyrolysis in fluidized bed reactor. Fuel 197:290–297

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fatehi H, Li ZS, Bai XS, Aldén M (2017) Modeling of alkali metal release during biomass pyrolysis. Proc Combust Inst 36(2):2243–2251

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hanaoka T, Inoue S, Uno S, Ogi T, Minowa T (2005) Effect of woody biomass components on air-steam gasification. Biomass Bioenerg 28(1):69–76

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jakab E, Blazso M (2013) Pyrolysis of wood, cellulose, lignin-brominated epoxy oligomer flame retardant mixtures. J Anal Appl Pyrol 103:52–59

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuchonthara P, Puttasawat B, Piumsomboon P, MeKasut L, Vitidsant T (2012) Catalytic steam reforming of biomass-derived tar for hydrogen production with K2CO3/NiO/γ-Al2O3 catalyst. Korean J Chem Eng 11:1525–1530

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Liao S, Dan W, Jia K, Zhou X (2012) Experimental study on catalytic steam gasification of municipal solid waste for bioenergy production in a combined fixed bed reactor. Biomass Bioenerg 46:174–180

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macedo LAD, Commandré JM, Rousset P, Valette J, Pétrissans M (2018) Influence of potassium carbonate addition on the condensable species released during wood torrefaction. Fuel Process Technol 169:248–257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marathe PS, Oudenhoven SRG, Heerspink PW, Kersten SRA, Westerhof RJM (2017) Fast pyrolysis of cellulose in vacuum: the effect of potassium salts on the primary reactions. Chem Eng J 329:187–197

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meng N, Dennis YC, Leung MKH, Sumathy K (2006) An overview of hydrogen production from biomass. Fuel Process Technol 87:461–472

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mitsuoka K, Hayashi S, Amano H, Kayahara K, Sasaoaka E, Uddin MA (2011) Gasification of woody biomass char with CO2: the catalytic effects of K and Ca species on char gasification reactivity. Fuel Process Technol 92(1):26–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakyai T, Authayanun SY, Arpornwichanop AS, Assabumrungrat DS (2017) Exergoeconomics of hydrogen production from biomass air-steam gasification with methane co-feeding. Energy Convers Manag 140:228–239

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nishimura M, Iwasaki S, Horio M (2009) The role of potassium carbonate on cellulose pyrolysis. J Taiwan Inst Chem Eng 40(6):630–637

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parthasarathy P, Narayanan KS (2014) Hydrogen production from steam gasification of biomass: influence of process parameters on hydrogen yield – a review. Renewable Energy 66:570–579

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peng WX, Wang LS, Mirzaee M, Ahmadi H (2017) Hydrogen and syngas production by catalytic biomass gasification. Energy Convers Manag 135:270–273

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pinto F, Gulyurtlu I, Cabrita I (2003) The study of reactions influencing the biomass steam gasification process. Fuel 82:835–842

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shahbaz M, Yusup S, Inayat A, Patrick DO, Ammar M (2017) The influence of catalysts in biomass steam gasification and catalytic potential of coal bottom ash in biomass steam gasification: a review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 73:468–476

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shayan E, Zare V, Mirezaee I (2018) Hydrogen production from biomass gasification; a theoretical comparison of using different gasification agents. Energy Convers Manag 159:30–41

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sheth PN, Babu BV (2010) Production of hydrogen energy through biomass (waste wood) gasification. Int J Hydrog Energy 35(19):10803–10810

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sindhu R, Binod P, Pandey A (2016) Biological pretreatment of ligncellulosic biomass—an overview. Biores Technol 199:76–82

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trubetskaya A, Jensen PA, Jensen AD, Garcia Llamas AD, Umeki K, Gardini D, Kling J, Bates RB, Glarborg P (2016) Effects of several types of biomass fuels on the yield, nanostructure and reactivity of soot from fuast pyrolysis at high temperatures. Appl Energy 171:468–482

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trubetskaya A, Larsen FH, Shchukarev A, Ståhl K, Umeki K (2018) Potassium and soot interaction in fast biomass pyrolysis at high temperatures. Fuel 225:89–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walawender WP, Chee CS, Geyer WA (1988) Influence of tree species and wood deterioration on downdraft gasifier performance. Biomass 17(1):51–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Jiang M, Yao Y, Zhang Y, Cao J (2009) Steam gasification of coal char catalyzed by K2CO3 for enhanced production of hydrogen without formation of methane. Fuel 88(9):1572–1579

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Z, Wang F, Cao J, Wang J (2010) Pyrolysis of pine wood in a slowly heating fixed-bed reactor: potassium carbonate versus calcium hydroxide as a catalyst. Fuel Process Technol 91(8):942–950

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weerachanchai P, Horio M, Tangsathitkulchai C (2009) Effects of gasifying conditions and bed materials on fluidized bed steam gasification of wood biomass. Biores Technol 100(3):1419–1427

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Pang S (2017) Experimental investigation of biomass devolatilization in steam gasification in a dual fluidized bed gasifier. Fuel 188:628–635

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H, Bruns MA, Logan BE (2006) Biological hydrogen production by clostridium acetobutylicum in an unsaturated flow reactor. Water Res 40:728–734

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Gong X, Zhang B, Liu W, Xu M (2014) Potassium catalytic hydrogen production in sorption enhanced gasification of biomass with steam. Int J Hydrog Energy 39(9):4234–4243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao S, Duan Y, Lu J, Liu S, Pudasainee D (2018) Enrichment characteristics, thermal stability and volatility of hazardous trace elements in fly ash from a coal-fired power plant. Fuel 225:490–498

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51676081) and the open fund from Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Fume and Dust Pollution Control (HBIK2017-04). And the Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities of China (111 Program, B17019) is also acknowledged. We also appreciate the editor and reviewers for their suggestion and comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry College, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, Hubei, China

    Xiaoyue Liu, Chunxiong Yi, Liang Chen, Rujie Niu, Qiangxian Wu & Zhengshun Wu

  2. Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Fume and Dust Pollution Control, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China

    Tie Mi

Authors
  1. Xiaoyue Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chunxiong Yi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Liang Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rujie Niu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tie Mi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Qiangxian Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Zhengshun Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Liang Chen or Zhengshun Wu.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, X., Yi, C., Chen, L. et al. Synergy of steam reforming and K2CO3 modification on wood biomass pyrolysis. Cellulose 26, 6049–6060 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-019-02480-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-019-02480-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation