Investigation of gasification kinetics of multi-component waste mixtures in a novel thermogravimetric flow reactor via gas analysis

A novel gasification fed-batch reactor enabling both thermogravimetric and gas analysis of large samples (up to tens of grams) was designed and tested. Air gasification experiments on food-court waste representative samples and its components were performed at 700 degrees C and 800 degrees C using ER = 0.3. At both temperatures, the lignocellulosics fraction produced highest H-2 concentration (greater than 21% at 800 degrees C) while the plastic components generated less H-2 regardless of process temperature (2.44%-7.08%). Synergistic effects of multiple components gasification with respect to H-2 production was noticed through its non-linear evolution at 700 degrees C (ranging from 1.18% to 5.38%). A strong negative effect was observed at 800 degrees C; plastic addition reduced H-2 production when combined with lignocellulosic and organic matter (1.02% to 9.73%). The same effects were observed for CH4 formation. This phenomenon was validated by kinetic analysis of decay curves of all components and their mixtures at the beginning of gasification in entire temperature region.

Automated summary

Through high-temperature gasification experiments, it was found that different components produced the highest H2 concentration in the lignocellulosics fraction, while less H2 was generated in the plastic components. Synergistic effects of multiple components gasification had a non-linear impact on H2 production, and the addition of plastic reduced H2 production.