Role of Catalyst in Solid Biomass Gasification

Energy recovery from biomass is of pinnacle importance for renewable and sustainable energy development. Gasification techniques offer efficient and effective transformation of solid biomass into gas/liquid fuels and value added materials. This technique offers clean energy production with improved efficiency compared to other transformation techniques. Catalysts offer improved reaction efficiency and product yield. However, a robust catalyst for efficient biomass conversion to fuel gases requires close examination. Transitional metals, being inert compared to alkali metals, have shown good catalytic activity in reformation reactions, such as, high temperature and low temperature water-gas shift reactions in ammonia plants with good heat conductivity and catalytic activity. In this study catalytic conversion of pine wood chips using dry (CO₂) gasification is investigated. The catalytic effects of CuO/Al₂O₃-SiO₂ (made by wetness impregnation) on the rate of gasification, along with the gaseous species evolved during the gasification at different temperatures (700°C to 900°C) using CO₂ are investigated in a semi-batch type reactor. The H₂/CO ratio in the syngas and the temporal evolution of various gases evolved, their total yield, and the energy yield are quantified from the analysis of gases evolved. The results reveal significant enhancement in H₂ yield and production rate along with selective dry reformation of CH₄, while the effect on CO yields were unaffected. Improved yields of H₂ and CH₄ but no change in CO suggest the catalytic activity of CuO in enhancing the formation of high molecular weight hydrocarbons.