A Route for Bioenergy in the Sahara Region: Date Palm Waste Valorization through Updraft Gasification

Mohammed Djaafri, Fethya Salem, Slimane Kalloum, Umberto Desideri, Pietro Bartocci (), Mostefa Khelafi, Abdulaziz E. Atabani and Arianna Baldinelli ()
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Mohammed Djaafri: Unité de Recherche en Energies Renouvelables en Milieu Saharien, URERMS, Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables, Adrar 01000, Algeria
Fethya Salem: Unité de Recherche en Energies Renouvelables en Milieu Saharien, URERMS, Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables, Adrar 01000, Algeria
Slimane Kalloum: Laboratory of Energy, Environment and Information System, University of Ahmed Draia Adrar, Adrar 01000, Algeria
Umberto Desideri: Department of Energy, Systems, Land and Buildings, Università di Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Pietro Bartocci: RISE Processum AB, SE-89122 Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
Mostefa Khelafi: Unité de Recherche en Energies Renouvelables en Milieu Saharien, URERMS, Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables, Adrar 01000, Algeria
Abdulaziz E. Atabani: Green Technology Research Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Yuan Ze University, Zhongli District, Taoyuan city 320, Taiwan
Arianna Baldinelli: Department of Energy, Systems, Land and Buildings, Università di Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: The Adrar region (Algeria) has a total of 397,800 date palm trees ( Phoenix dactylifera L.). Due to annual palm cleaning, large quantities of lignocellulosic biomass are produced. Depending on the variety, an average of 65 kg of biowaste is obtained per palm tree. Since the value of this biowaste is underrated, most of the palms are burned outdoors, causing air and visual pollution. This work explores the gasification potential of lignocellulosic waste from date palms ( Phoenix dactylifera L. Takarbouche variety) into useful energy. The technology investigated is air updraft fixed-bed gasification, thanks to an originally designed and built reactor, with the capability to process 1 kg of feedstock. Four types of palm waste—namely, palms, petioles, bunch, and bunch peduncles—are first characterized (bulk density, proximate analysis, fixed carbon, elemental composition, and calorific value) and then used as feedstock for two gasification tests each. The syngas produced for the four date palm wastes is combustible, with an outlet temperature between 200 and 400 °C. The operating temperature inside the gasifier varies according to the feature of the biomass cuts (from 174 °C for the peduncles to 557 °C for palms). The experimental setup is also equipped with a cyclone, allowing for the recovery of some of the tar produced during the tests. Finally, the results show that the residence time has a positive effect on the conversion rate of date palm waste, which can significantly increase it to values of around 95%.

Keywords: biomass; lignocellulosic; palm waste; gasification; updraft; syngas; bioenergy; renewables; biowaste; Sahara (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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