Influence of indirectly heated steam-blown gasification process conditions on biochar physico-chemical properties

Del Grosso, M.; Cutz, L.; Tiringer, U.; Tsekos, C.; Taheri, P.; de Jong, W.

doi:10.1016/j.fuproc.2022.107347

Influence of indirectly heated steam-blown gasification process conditions on biochar physico-chemical properties

Title

Influence of indirectly heated steam-blown gasification process conditions on biochar physico-chemical properties

Author

Del Grosso, M. (TU Delft Large Scale Energy Storage)
Cutz, L. (TU Delft Large Scale Energy Storage)
Tiringer, U. (TU Delft Team Peyman Taheri)
Tsekos, C. (TU Delft Large Scale Energy Storage)
Taheri, P. (TU Delft Team Peyman Taheri)
de Jong, W. (TU Delft Large Scale Energy Storage)

Date

2022

Abstract

Our work provides a thorough characterization of different biochars produced by a novel 50 kW_th Indirectly Heated Bubbling Fluidized Bed Steam Reformer. This study investigates the effect of temperature and gasification agent on the physico-chemical properties of biochars. We combined macro, micro and nano characterization techniques to provide a clear picture of the biochar characteristics, surface functionality and its “inert” nature toward potential applications. Our results demonstrate that indirect gasification is capable of producing carbon-rich biochars (> 92%) with increased porosity (89–198 cm³.g⁻¹), high heating value (28–31 MJ.kg⁻¹ a.r.) and aromaticity compared to the parent biomass. All biochars have lower O/C (0.02–0.04) and H/C atomic ratios (0.09–0.19), similar to anthracite. For the range of tested gasification conditions, air/steam gasification at an equivalence ratio of 0.20 and steam-to-biomass ratio of 1.2 provides the highest biochar yield (7.3%), while maintaining syngas composition optimal. On the other hand, air gasification produces biochars with relatively high content of inorganic elements. Indirectly heated biochars are compliant with the European Biochar Certificate regarding the carbon content, O/C ratio, H/C ratio. Our biochars may provide an improvement in agricultural yield and CO₂ adsorption, especially those produced under air/steam gasification conditions. Our novel indirect design not only constitutes a promising development in the field of biomass allothermal gasification but also can help improving gasification circularity through the production of high quality biochar.

Subject

Biochar
Characterization techniques
Gasification
Surface Analysis

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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:c345b0ef-d8cc-43d1-b1ff-ea90eaea15b8

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2022.107347

ISSN

0378-3820

Source

Fuel Processing Technology, 235

Part of collection

Institutional Repository