Gasification of empty fruit brunch in micro fixed bed reactor for hydrogen production

Abstract

Providing energy for future has been a big problem considering the fossil fuel running out and high demand for energy consumption. Biomass considered the most favorable source of energy on the earth which optimize within 10 to 15% of world energy as primary source. The aim of this research is to find a new sustainable source of energy and evaluate the benefits and efficiency as well. The studies include equivalence ratio (ER), steam to biomass ratio (S/B), and temperature. The preferred ER and S/B ratio were set to 0.4 and 0.5 to 0.8 respectively, furthermore temperature profiles of 600°C to 700°C applied to investigate the effect on the experiments. The results show that beside syngas (CO and H2), CO2, CH4, C2H4 and C2H6 were also generated. Only hydroxygenated compound such phenol, X and Y, were detected using Gas chromatography mass spectrometers (GCMS) in the liquid product. The H2 content was measured in the product gases up to 50% which increased by increasing the S/B and the temperature. In addition, the amount of solid residual identified as char, and had opposite behavior compare to H2,. The experiments achievements conclude that gasification of EFB could be a competitive method for renewable source of energy in future