Abstract
Potential of biomass steam gasification with porous clay-derived materials that holds tar inside the reactor to enhance gas production was investigated. Tar capturing ability was compared for commercial FCC particles, commercial activated clay, lightly acidified bentonite, raw bentonite, porous silica particles and silica sand by using a laboratory scale fluidized bed reactor. FCC particles and all clay materials, even raw bentonite, were found to reduce heavy tar and water-soluble species emissions, and to increased carbonaceous materials deposited on the bed materials. The activated clay held two or more times the amounts of carbonaceous materials than porous silica did, although the specific surface areas were almost the same. Carbonaceous materials deposited on FCC particle in 923 K were easily gasified at temperatures greater than 973 K. Following up on these results, wood biomass gasification experiments were carried out at 923–1023 K for 90 min in activated clay or silica sand beds. Activated clay showed significantly high energy conversion to gas by gasification of captured carbonaceous materials.
