Pyro-gasification of lignocellulosic biomass: online quantification of gas evolution with temperature, effects of heating rate, and stoichiometric ratio Article uri icon

abstract

  • This study focuses on the energetic valorization of agave bagasse (AB) waste. The pyro-gasification tests with air were conducted in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) coupled with a micro-gas chromatograph (μ-GC) analyzer using AB as feedstocks and α-cellulose (CEL) as biomass model. The effects of heating rate values (10 to 80 °C/min) and stoichiometric air-to-biomass ratio values (ABR) on the performance of the process were investigated. The evolution of CO, CO2, CH4, and H2 was monitored through online and offline TGA/μ-GC measurements. It was shown that CO and CO2 were mainly released at a temperature below 450 °C and followed almost the same pattern. The CH4 started to evolve at a temperature above 300 °C, while the maximum H2 production was obtained between 600 and 700 °C. In addition, an appreciable decrease in the combustible gas composition (CO, CO2, CH4, and H2) was achieved with an increment in ABR, while the fraction of non-combustible gases (CO2 and N2) increased. On the other hand, the increase in heating rate positively influences combustible gas yields. In fact, the H2 production increased from 70.75 to 128.89 mL/(g of feedstock) with the increase in heating rate from 10 to 80 °C/min, thus improving in the process efficiency from 33 to 60. The average lower heating value of the fuel was about 5.5 MJ/Nm3. The results suggest that air pyro-gasification for hydrogen-rich gas production could be a promising route for the energetic valorization of AB waste. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

publication date

  • 2022-01-01