Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass for Syngas Production: Current Status and Future Trends

Ghulamullah Maitlo, Imran Ali, Kashif Hussain Mangi, Safdar Ali, Hubdar Ali Maitlo, Imran Nazir Unar and Abdul Majeed Pirzada
Additional contact information
Ghulamullah Maitlo: Department of Chemical Engineering, Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi 74800, Sindh, Pakistan
Imran Ali: Department of Environmental Sciences, Sindh Madressatul Islam University, Karachi 74000, Sindh, Pakistan
Kashif Hussain Mangi: Department of Chemical Engineering, Quaid e Awam University of Engineering Science and Technology, Nawabshah 67480, Sindh, Pakistan
Safdar Ali: Asian Institute of Fashion Design, Iqra University, Karachi 75500, Sindh, Pakistan
Hubdar Ali Maitlo: Department of Energy and Environment Engineering, Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi 74800, Sindh, Pakistan
Imran Nazir Unar: Department of Chemical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro 76062, Sindh, Pakistan
Abdul Majeed Pirzada: Department of Environmental Sciences, Sindh Madressatul Islam University, Karachi 74000, Sindh, Pakistan

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-30

Abstract: The thermochemical conversion of different feedstocks is a technology capable of reducing the amount of biowaste materials produced. In addition, the gasification of feedstock using steam as a gasifying agent also produces hydrogen, which is a clean energy fuel. This article aimed to encapsulate the current status of biowaste gasification and to explain, in detail, the advantages and limitations of gasification technologies. In this review paper, different gasifying agents such as steam, air, and oxygen, as well as their effects on the quality of syngas production, are discussed. In addition, the effects of reactor configuration and different operating parameters, such as temperature, pressure, equivalence ratio, and incorporation of a catalyst, as well as their effects on the ratio of H 2 /CO, LHV, syngas yield, and tar production, were critically evaluated. Although gasification is a sustainable and ecologically sound biomass utilization technology, tar formation is the main problem in the biomass gasification process. Tar can condense in the reactor, and clog and contaminate equipment. It has been shown that an optimized gasifier and a high-activity catalyst can effectively reduce tar formation. However, key biowaste treatment technologies and concepts must first be improved and demonstrated at the market level to increase stakeholder confidence. Gasification can be the driving force of this integration, effectively replacing fossil fuels with produced gas. In addition, support policies are usually needed to make the integration of biomass gasification technology into the industry profitable with fully functional gasification plants. Therefore, to address such issues, this study focused on addressing these issues and an overview of gasification concepts.

Keywords: biomass; gasification; syngas; parameters; efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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