Supercritical water gasification of real biomass feedstocks in continuous flow system

In this study, supercritical water gasification of the selected five biomass samples (cauliflower residue, acorn, tomatoes residue, extracted acorn and hazelnut shell) was investigated. Lignocellulosic feedstocks were gasified in a continuous flow reactor at 600 degrees C and 35 MPa. The product gas is composed of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide and a small amount of C(2) compounds. Quantitative analysis of product gas was performed by Gas chromatography device. Potassium carbonate (K(2)CO(3)) and Trona (Na(2)CO(3)center dot NaHCO(3)center dot 2H(2)O) were used as catalysts. Carbon gasification efficiencies were improved by addition of these catalysts into the reacting system. Moreover, carbon gasification efficiency changes with type of biomass that includes different ratio of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The H2 yield (mol gas/kg C in feed) of acorn in the presence of Trona was found to be 7 times higher than that of without catalyst. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.