Hydrogen rich syngas production from biomass gasification using synthesized Fe/CaO active catalysts

Biomass gasification for hydrogen rich syngas production was investigated using the Fe/CaO catalysts in a fluidized bed reactor. The synthesized catalysts were prepared by an impregnation method with different Fe/CaO mass ratios (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%) for enhancing H-2 concentration and syngas yields and then characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherms test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and CO2 absorption capacity test. The results showed that the Fe load had significant influences on the composition, textural properties and CO2 adsorption capacity. Results of gasification experiments verified that the presence of Fe enhanced the concentration and yield of H-2. The highest syngas yield of 38.21 mol/kg biomass, H-2 yield of 26.40 mol/kg biomass, LHV values of 8.69 MJ/kg and gasification efficiency of 49.15% were obtained at an optimized mass ratio of Fe/CaO = 5%. In addition, the characterization results indicated that Ca2Fe2O5 phase was formed. The Ca2Fe2O5 had less CO2 absorption capacity and effect on the gasification, but was considered to be a catalyst for tar cracking thus preventing the CaO deactivation. (C) 2017 Energy Institute. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.