Biomass gasification in supercritical water:: Part 1.: Effect of the nature of biomass

In this study, biomass feedstocks, including lignocellulosic materials and the tannery wastes, were gasified in supercritical water. Gasification experiments were performed in a batch autoclave at 500 degrees C. The amount of gases, the gas compositions and the amount of water soluble compounds from gasification were determined. The hydrogen yields ranging between 4.05 and 4.65 mol H-2/kg biomass have been obtained. The results showed that the yields and composition of gases depend also on the organic materials other than cellulose and lignin in lignocellulosic material. In addition to this, it was concluded that the kind of lignin may also have an effect on gasification products. In the case of tannery wastes, the type of tarmen agent used in leather production considerably effected the gasification results. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.