Characteristics of biomass gasification using chemical looping with iron ore as an oxygen carrier

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.09.022
• Publication Date: 2013-10-02T06:07:14Z
• Authors: Zhen Huang; Fang He; Yipeng Feng; Rundong Liu; Kun Zhao; Anqing Zheng; Sheng Chang; Zengli Zhao; Haibin Li
• Keywords: Technology; Energy & Fuels; 02 engineering and technology; FE; MINERALS; 7. Clean energy; Biomass Gasification; SYNTHESIS GAS-PRODUCTION; COMBUSTION; COAL; Chemical Looping; Lattice Oxygen; Electrochemistry; Physical; 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering; REACTOR; SCALE; Science & Technology; 660; Iron Ore; OXIDE; 620; Chemistry; CONVERSION; FLUIDIZED-BED; Physical Sciences

Abstract Experiments regarding to biomass gasification using chemical looping (BGCL) were carried out in a fluidized bed reactor under argon atmosphere. Iron ore (natural hematite) was used as an oxygen carrier in the study. Similar to steam, a performance of oxygen carrier which provided oxygen source for biomass gasification by acting as a gasifying medium was found. An optimum Fe2O3/C molar ratio of 0.23 was determined with the aim of obtaining maximum gas yield of 1.06 Nm3/kg and gasification efficiency of 83.31%. The oxygen carrier was gradually deactivated with reduction time increasing, inhibiting the carbon and hydrogen in biomass from being converted into synthesis gas. The fraction of Fe2+ increased from 0 to 47.12% after reduction time of 45 min, which implied that active lattice oxygen of 49.75% was consumed. The oxygen carrier of fresh and reacted was analyzed by a series of characterization methods, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX).