Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Hydrogen-Rich Gas Production from Steam Gasification of Bio-char in the Presence of CaO

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Waste and Biomass Valorization Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The steam gasification of bio-char to produce hydrogen-rich gas with CaO as in-bed catalyst is experimentally investigated in a fluidized bed reactor. The purpose of the study is twofold: (1) evaluate the optimal operating conditions of catalytic gasification for hydrogen-rich gas production, by examining catalyst activity and steam flowrate; (2) optimize the process by investigating the potential for reducing the gasification temperature. Results reveal that increasing the CaO/wood mass ratio from 0 to 1.0 is effective for both H2 improvement and tar reduction; this is attributed to enhanced CO2 absorption and reforming reactions. Increasing the steam flowrate is beneficial towards H2 production via the water gas shift reactions. A maximum H2 concentration is achieved at a steam flowrate of 160 g/h; however, excessive steam injection will lead to an opposite effect, due to decreased available heat. The reaction temperature should be balanced between the gasification performance and CaO carbonation ability, and the optimal temperature is found to be 700 °C in this study. Comparing the results with non-catalytic high-temperature gasification, 50% CaO addition at 700 °C could reach as high H2 yield as that gasified at 800 °C without catalyst. Meanwhile, the use of CaO also optimizes the gasification performance with a much higher H2 concentration, a higher H2/CO ratio and reduced tar yield. Therefore, it is concluded that 50% CaO addition as catalyst at 700 °C is effective to reduce the steam gasification reaction temperature by 14% (ca. 100 °C).

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
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Zhong, C., Wei, X.: A comparative experimental study on the liquefaction of wood. Energy 29, 1731–1741 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Bridgwater, A., Toft, A., Brammer, J.: A techno-economic comparison of power production by biomass fast pyrolysis with gasification and combustion. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 6, 181–246 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Scala, F., Salatino, P., Chirone, R.: Fluidized bed combustion of a biomass char (Robinia pseudoacacia). Energy Fuel 14, 781–790 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Tay, T., Ucar, S., Karagöz, S.: Preparation and characterization of activated carbon from waste biomass. J. Hazard. Mater. 165, 481–485 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Lee, J.W., Kidder, M., Evans, B.R., Paik, S., Buchanan Iii, A., Garten, C.T., Brown, R.C.: Characterization of biochars produced from cornstovers for soil amendment. Environ. Sci. Technol. 44, 7970–7974 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Beis, S., Onay, Ö., Koçkar, Ö.: Fixed-bed pyrolysis of safflower seed: influence of pyrolysis parameters on product yields and compositions. Renew. Energy 26, 21–32 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Klaas, M., Greenhalf, C., Ferrante, L., Briens, C., Berruti, F.: Optimisation of hydrogen production by steam reforming of chars derived from lumber and agricultural residues. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 40, 3642–3647 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Yan, F., Luo, S.-Y., Hu, Z.-Q., Xiao, B., Cheng, G.: Hydrogen-rich gas production by steam gasification of char from biomass fast pyrolysis in a fixed-bed reactor: influence of temperature and steam on hydrogen yield and syngas composition. Bioresource Technol. 101, 5633–5637 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Acharya, B., Dutta, A., Basu, P.: An investigation into steam gasification of biomass for hydrogen enriched gas production in presence of CaO. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 35, 1582–1589 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Widyawati, M., Church, T.L., Florin, N.H., Harris, A.T.: Hydrogen synthesis from biomass pyrolysis with in situ carbon dioxide capture using calcium oxide. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 36, 4800–4813 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Han, L., Wang, Q., Ma, Q., Yu, C., Luo, Z., Cen, K.: Influence of CaO additives on wheat-straw pyrolysis as determined by TG-FTIR analysis. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrol. 88, 199–206 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Kuo, J.-H., Wey, M.-Y., Chen, W.-C.: Woody waste air gasification in fluidized bed with Ca-and Mg-modified bed materials and additives. Appl. Therm. Eng. 53, 42–48 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Zhou, C., Stuermer, T., Gunarathne, R., Yang, W., Blasiak, W.: Effect of calcium oxide on high-temperature steam gasification of municipal solid waste. Fuel 122, 36–46 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Shuai, C., Hu, S., He, L., Xiang, J., Sun, L., Su, S., Jiang, L., Chen, Q., Xu, C.: The synergistic effect of Ca(OH)2 on the process of lignite steam gasification to produce hydrogen-rich gas. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 39, 15506–15516 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ohtsuka, Y., Asami, K.: Steam gasification of coals with calcium hydroxide. Energy Fuel 9, 1038–1042 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Dalai, A., Sasaoka, E., Hikita, H., Ferdous, D.: Catalytic gasification of sawdust derived from various biomass. Energy Fuel 17, 1456–1463 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Klinghoffer, N.: Utilization of char from biomass gasification in catalytic applications. Doctoral dissertation, Columbia University (2013)

  18. Klinghoffer, N.B., Castaldi, M.J., Nzihou, A.: Catalyst properties and catalytic performance of char from biomass gasification. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 51, 13113–13122 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Kihedu, J.H., Yoshiie, R., Naruse, I.: Performance indicators for air and air–steam auto-thermal updraft gasification of biomass in packed bed reactor. Fuel Process. Technol. 141, 93–98 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Van Paasen, S., Kiel, J., Neeft, J., Knoef, H., Buffinga, G., Zielke, U., Sjostrom, K., Brage, C., Hasler, P., Simell, P.: Guideline for sampling and analysis of tar and particles in biomass producer gases. Final report documenting the Guideline, R&D work and dissemination, 95 (2002)

  21. Jordan, C.A., Akay, G.: Effect of CaO on tar production and dew point depression during gasification of fuel cane bagasse in a novel downdraft gasifier. Fuel Process. Technol. 106, 654–660 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Han, L., Wang, Q., Yang, Y., Yu, C., Fang, M., Luo, Z.: Hydrogen production via CaO sorption enhanced anaerobic gasification of sawdust in a bubbling fluidized bed. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 36, 4820–4829 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Udomsirichakorn, J., Basu, P., Salam, P.A., Acharya, B.: Effect of CaO on tar reforming to hydrogen-enriched gas with in-process CO2 capture in a bubbling fluidized bed biomass steam gasifier. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 38, 14495–14504 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Arena, U.: Process and technological aspects of municipal solid waste gasification. A review. Waste Manage. 32, 625–639 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Manovic, V., Lu, D., Anthony, E.J.: Steam hydration of sorbents from a dual fluidized bed CO2 looping cycle reactor. Fuel 87, 3344–3352 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Paviet, F., Bals, O., Antonini, G.: The effects of diffusional resistance on wood char gasification. Process Saf. Environ. 86, 131–140 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. He, M., Xiao, B., Liu, S., Guo, X., Luo, S., Xu, Z., Feng, Y., Hu, Z.: Hydrogen-rich gas from catalytic steam gasification of municipal solid waste (MSW): influence of steam to MSW ratios and weight hourly space velocity on gas production and composition. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 34, 2174–2183 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. De Filippis, P., Borgianni, C., Paolucci, M., Pochetti, F.: Prediction of syngas quality for two-stage gasification of selected waste feedstocks. Waste Manag. 24, 633–639 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Florin, N.H., Harris, A.T.: Enhanced hydrogen production from biomass with in situ carbon dioxide capture using calcium oxide sorbents. Chem. Eng. Sci. 63, 287–316 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Florin, N.H., Harris, A.T.: Hydrogen production from biomass coupled with carbon dioxide capture: the implications of thermodynamic equilibrium. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 32, 4119–4134 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Blamey, J., Anthony, E., Wang, J., Fennell, P.: The calcium looping cycle for large-scale CO2 capture. Prog. Energ. Combust. 36, 260–279 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Baker, E.: The calcium oxide–carbon dioxide system in the pressure range 1–300 atmospheres. J. Chem. Soc., 464–470 (1962)

  34. Feng, B., Bhatia, S.K., Barry, J.C.: Variation of the crystalline structure of coal char during gasification. Energ. Fuel. 17, 744–754 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Grasa, G.S., Abanades, J.C.: CO2 capture capacity of CaO in long series of carbonation/calcination cycles. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 45, 8846–8851 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This project is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51276168) and the Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to University (B08026).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre RAPSODEE, Ecole des Mines Albi, Campus Jarlard, 81013, Albi Cedex, France

    Jun Dong, Ange Nzihou, Elsa Weiss-Hortala, Nathalie Lyczko & Marion Ducousso

  2. State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

    Jun Dong, Yong Chi, Mingjiang Ni & Yuanjun Tang

Authors
  1. Jun Dong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ange Nzihou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yong Chi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Elsa Weiss-Hortala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mingjiang Ni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Nathalie Lyczko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yuanjun Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Marion Ducousso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yong Chi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Dong, J., Nzihou, A., Chi, Y. et al. Hydrogen-Rich Gas Production from Steam Gasification of Bio-char in the Presence of CaO. Waste Biomass Valor 8, 2735–2746 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-016-9784-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-016-9784-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation