Keywords
Biomass; gasification; renewable energy, CO2 recycling; catalytic; potassium
Presentation Type
Event
Research Abstract
Biomass gasification is an important process in the production of bio-derived fuels and renewable energy. Biomass gasification with CO2 is an endothermic process requiring high temperatures, resulting in low process-efficiency. Metals found in the ash in biomass feedstock have shown rate-promoting effects on the C-CO2 reaction and have motivated the study of low-temperature catalytic gasification. The present study investigates the catalytic effects of potassium (K) on the biomass gasification reactivity of a coconut-derived char (>99.9% carbon) within the temperature range of 600 – 1000 oC. A wet-impregnation technique is used to prepare K-treated chars. Gasification of the coconut char is conducted within a fixed-bed gasifier with sensitive temperature control (± 10 K). Optical diagnostics, such as laser absorption spectroscopy and non-dispersive infrared absorption spectroscopy, are used to quantify the char mass-loss and instantaneous conversion rate histories. Experimental data show significant increase in gasification rates with the addition of potassium to the chars. Peak gasification rates are observed to increase significantly with addition of K within the temperature range of 600-800 oC. Peak gasification rates beyond 800 oC show a non-monotonic trend, which suggests that the high temperature stability of K may have significant effects on its catalytic activity.
Recommended Citation
Mengqi Gao, Indraneel Sircar, and Jay P. Gore,
"Experimental Study of CO2 Recycling using Metal-Oxide Enhanced Coconut Char Gasification: Catalytic Effect of Potassium Carbonate on Gasification"
().
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium.
Paper 61.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/surf/2013/presentations/61
Included in
Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Commons, Energy Systems Commons, Heat Transfer, Combustion Commons
Experimental Study of CO2 Recycling using Metal-Oxide Enhanced Coconut Char Gasification: Catalytic Effect of Potassium Carbonate on Gasification
Biomass gasification is an important process in the production of bio-derived fuels and renewable energy. Biomass gasification with CO2 is an endothermic process requiring high temperatures, resulting in low process-efficiency. Metals found in the ash in biomass feedstock have shown rate-promoting effects on the C-CO2 reaction and have motivated the study of low-temperature catalytic gasification. The present study investigates the catalytic effects of potassium (K) on the biomass gasification reactivity of a coconut-derived char (>99.9% carbon) within the temperature range of 600 – 1000 oC. A wet-impregnation technique is used to prepare K-treated chars. Gasification of the coconut char is conducted within a fixed-bed gasifier with sensitive temperature control (± 10 K). Optical diagnostics, such as laser absorption spectroscopy and non-dispersive infrared absorption spectroscopy, are used to quantify the char mass-loss and instantaneous conversion rate histories. Experimental data show significant increase in gasification rates with the addition of potassium to the chars. Peak gasification rates are observed to increase significantly with addition of K within the temperature range of 600-800 oC. Peak gasification rates beyond 800 oC show a non-monotonic trend, which suggests that the high temperature stability of K may have significant effects on its catalytic activity.