Evaluation of CO2 gasification performance process using wood and wood pellets of Pinus elliottii

Biomass waste can have a considerable increase in its energy density through its densification-pellets, which can be used in gasification processes to produce chemicals of commercial interest and energy. There is a gap in the literature regarding the comparison of CO2 gasification of biomass in its crude form and its densified form (pellets). The main objective of this work was to compare the use of a biomass (Pinus elliottii) in two different formats, crude wood (PIN 66) and densified sawdust (PEL 66), and to compare the parameters of the non-condensable gas produced as well as the remaining solid of the gasification process. The gasification tests were conducted in a fixed bed tubular reactor at a temperature of 900 degrees C, using CO2 atmosphere, at different reaction times: 1.5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 min. The results showed that the total yield of non-condensable gas continuously increases with the reaction time for both samples, reaching a maximum value of 1.13 NL/g to 60 min of reaction for PEL 66 sample and 1.10 NL/g to 60 min of reaction for PIN 66 sample. The remaining solid of the tests with PEL 66 and PIN 66 indicated an evolution in conversion as the reaction time increased, reaching 95% for PEL 66 and 94% for PIN 66 in the time of 60 min. The slight difference obtained in the results of the non-condensable gas produced and in the remaining solid of PEL 66 and PIN 66 biomasses suggests a promising path for the use of densified biomass residues for thermochemical processes.

Automated summary

This study compares the performance of biomass in its crude form and densified form in CO2 gasification processes, and suggests a promising application for densified biomass residues in thermochemical processes.