Hydrogen-rich syngas production from biomass in a steam microwave-induced plasma gasification reactor

Substitution of fossil fuels by sustainable practices must be rapidly implemented to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The conversion of biomass into combustible gas is investigated in a microwave-induced plasma reactor using pure steam as the plasma working gas for the first time. The optimum results are achieved at the highest forward microwave power of 6 kW with biomass carbon conversion efficiency over 98% and complete biomass energy recovery in syngas. Unreacted steam is simply condensed out, leading to the production of a syngas with low inert dilution and high calorific value in the range 10.5-12 MJ/Nm3. The syngas produced is rich in hydrogen, exceeding 60% by volume. The proposed process could aid in the transition to a carbon neutral economy as it has the potential to efficiently convert biomass to syngas that can be used for the sustainable generation of fuels, chemicals and energy.

Automated summary

The study effectively converted biomass into combustible gas using pure steam in a microwave-induced plasma reactor, achieving a carbon conversion efficiency of over 98% and producing syngas with high calorific value and rich hydrogen content.