Thermal conversion of organic furniture waste to hydrogen fuel via catalytic air gasification over monolithic spinel-type oxide-supported nickel catalysts

Furniture waste sawdust, as a byproduct of the furniture industry, is discharged in huge amounts annually. However, traditional strategies applied for their treatment have resulted in crucial environmental issues. As an eco-friendly alternative option to treat Furniture waste sawdust, this study developed a catalytic gasification technology using spinel-type oxide (AB2O4)-supported Ni catalysts under an air atmosphere to generate H2-rich gas. To this end, different metals are substituted as A cation in the spinel structure, followed by wash-coating on the monolithic reactor and impregnation with Ni to prepare Ni/MAl2O4 (M = Ca, Co, Ba, Zn, Zr, Mg, or Cu) catalysts. The employment of catalysts greatly enhanced the gas yield and H2 and CO selectivities, while significantly reducing the CO2, CH4, and C2-C4 generation, attributable to stimulated dry-and steam-methane reforming reactions. In particular, the highest gas yield (81.67 wt%) and H2 selectivity (32.19 vol%), lowest CO2, and almost zero CH4 and C2-C4 contents are obtained over Ni/CoAl2O4 catalyst, owing to the high oxygen transfer potential, appropriate basicity, and high Ni dispersion. Furthermore, a considerably enhanced gas yield and slightly increased H2 selectivity are observed when the gasification temperature is increased from 700 to 800 degrees C, reaching the maximum at 87.31 wt% and 32.87 vol%, respectively. Moreover, different catalyst-to -feedstock ratios from 1/5 to 1/20 gently influenced the gas yield and composition. Overall, the emerging po-tential of monolithic spinel-type oxide-supported Ni catalysts for hydrocarbon cracking, along with the use of waste materials as feedstock, can open new prospects for the economical and eco-friendly generation of H2 via gasification technology.

Automated summary

This study developed a catalytic gasification technology using spinel-type oxide-supported Ni catalysts to treat furniture waste sawdust and generate H2-rich gas. The use of catalysts greatly enhanced gas yield and selectivities, while reducing the generation of CO2, CH4, and C2-C4. The potential of this technology lies in its economic and eco-friendly approach to producing H2.