Gasification of biomass over dolomite by using fixed-bed reactor at temperature 750⁰C

Abstract

Nowadays energy demand is high due to rapid industrialization. In addition, there is an environmental issue of greenhouse effect due to the use of fossil fuel to produce energy. The depletion of fossil fuel is of concern as it is a finite supply. Thus, another alternative to produce energy is needed for future development. Biomass gasification is a process for potential source of renewable energy. Besides, this gasification technology has been investigated to be effective in conversion of solid biomass to gaseous mixture economically. An experiment was conducted by using fixed-bed reactor with rice husk as biomass and dolomite as catalyst. The type of gases produced are hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Various parameters such as particle sizes (1.18 mm and 600 μm), temperature of calcined dolomite (700⁰C, 750⁰C and 800⁰C), and mass ratio of dolomite to biomass (1:3, 1:4 and 1:5) was discussed. The optimum condition for biomass gasification has been found at rice husk of size 600 μm at 1:4 dolomite to biomass mass ratio by using any calcined dolomite. This shows that smaller size of biomass helps to improve the amount of hydrocarbon gas produced without using higher amount of catalyst.