Effect of Activated Carbon Catalytic on Supercritical Water Gasification of Glycine as a Model Compound of Protein

Abstract

Aqueous solutions (1.0-5.0 wt%) of glycine, which is a model compound of proteins, was gasified in supercritical water using a tubular reactor at temperature of 500-650 °C and pressure of 25 MPa for a residence time of 63-188 s. Activated carbon (0.5 wt%) was employed as a catalyst in order to improve gasification efficiency. The identification and quantification of gaseous products were conducted and the total organic carbon was measured for the liquid effluent. Based on the experimental results, the reaction rate parameters were determined for the carbon gasification efficiency of glycine in supercritical water, assuming a first-order reaction. The results showed that an elevated temperature would be required for achieving high carbon gasification efficiency. The activated carbon catalyst was found to be ineffective for glycine.