Catalysis/CO2 sorption enhanced pyrolysis-gasification of biomass for H2-rich gas production: Effects of activated carbon, NiO active component and calcined dolomite

This study aims to reveal the effects of activated carbon (AC), NiO active component and calcined dolomite addition on the H-2-rich gas production from pyrolysis-gasification of biomass, the experiments were conducted on a two-staged fixed-bed reactor with sawdust (SD) as biomass feedstock. It was found that the H-2-rich gas production was largely enhanced by AC catalyst due to its catalytic effect on volatiles gasification as well as its self-gasification during the process. Lower impregnation ratio of ZnCl2 or H3PO4 to biomass was preferable to the H-2 production. H3PO4 activation char (PAC) might keep more active structures with higher AC yields compared with ZnCl2 activation char (ZAC). NiO would mainly enter into the micropores of AC, possibly covered some of the active sites on AC surface, thus caused the decrease in AC self-gasification, although certain catalytic effect of NiO on H-2 production was also observed. Additional calcined dolomite introduction together with NiO/AC catalyst could further increase the H-2 concentration and yield. A remarkable synergistic strengthening effect was found between NiO/PAC-SD catalyst and calcined dolomite, the maximum H-2 concentration and yield of 62.54 vol% and 1343.52 mL/g biomass were achieved with the addition of NiO/PAC-SD-1 and calcined dolomite due to the combination of in situ CO2 sorption enhancing effect and NiO/PAC-SD-1 catalytic effect as well as the enhanced AC self-gasification. It is thus illustrated that the catalysis/sorption enhanced pyrolysis-gasification of biomass using NiO/AC catalyst and calcined dolomite is an effective way to produce a H-2-rich gas and shows a good prospect in the carbon-constrained future.

Automated summary

This study investigates the effects of activated carbon, NiO active component, and calcined dolomite addition on H2-rich gas production from biomass pyrolysis-gasification. The results show that activated carbon greatly enhances H2 production due to its catalytic effect and self-gasification. Lower impregnation ratio of ZnCl2 or H3PO4 to biomass is preferable for H2 production. NiO mainly enters the micropores of activated carbon and may cover some active sites, reducing self-gasification but also showing catalytic effects on H2 production. The addition of calcined dolomite further increases H2 concentration and yield, and a synergistic effect is observed with NiO/activated carbon catalyst and calcined dolomite.