IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v66y2014icp346-353.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Synthesis and evaluation of biochar-derived catalysts for removal of toluene (model tar) from biomass-generated producer gas

Author

Listed:
  • Bhandari, Pushpak N.
  • Kumar, Ajay
  • Bellmer, Danielle D.
  • Huhnke, Raymond L.

Abstract

Challenges in removal of contaminants, especially tars, from biomass-generated producer gas continue to hinder commercialization efforts in biomass gasification. The objectives of this study were to synthesize catalysts made from biochar, a byproduct of biomass gasification and to evaluate their performance for tar removal. The three catalysts selected for this study were original biochar, activated carbon, and acidic surface activated carbon derived from biochar. Experiments were carried out in a fixed bed tubular catalytic reactor at temperatures of 700 and 800 °C using toluene as a model tar compound to measure effectiveness of the catalysts to remove tar. Steam was supplied to promote reforming reactions of tar. Results showed that all three catalysts were effective in toluene removal with removal efficiency of 69–92%. Activated carbon catalysts resulted in higher toluene removal because of their higher surface area (∼900 m2/g compared to less than 10 m2/g of biochar), larger pore diameter (19 A° compared to 15.5 A° of biochar) and larger pore volume (0.44 cc/g compared to 0.085 cc/g of biochar). An increase in reactor temperature from 700 to 800 °C resulted in 3–10% increase in toluene removal efficiency. Activated carbons had higher toluene removal efficiency compared to biochar catalysts.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhandari, Pushpak N. & Kumar, Ajay & Bellmer, Danielle D. & Huhnke, Raymond L., 2014. "Synthesis and evaluation of biochar-derived catalysts for removal of toluene (model tar) from biomass-generated producer gas," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 346-353.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:66:y:2014:i:c:p:346-353
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2013.12.017
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148113006940
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2013.12.017?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Özçimen, Didem & Karaosmanoğlu, Filiz, 2004. "Production and characterization of bio-oil and biochar from rapeseed cake," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(5), pages 779-787.
    2. Devi, Lopamudra & Ptasinski, Krzysztof J. & Janssen, Frans J.J.G. & van Paasen, Sander V.B. & Bergman, Patrick C.A. & Kiel, Jacob H.A., 2005. "Catalytic decomposition of biomass tars: use of dolomite and untreated olivine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 565-587.
    3. Ajay Kumar & David D. Jones & Milford A. Hanna, 2009. "Thermochemical Biomass Gasification: A Review of the Current Status of the Technology," Energies, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-26, July.
    4. Han, Jun & Kim, Heejoon, 2008. "The reduction and control technology of tar during biomass gasification/pyrolysis: An overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(2), pages 397-416, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhou, Yuli & Wang, Wenlong & Sun, Jing & Fu, Lunjing & Song, Zhanlong & Zhao, Xiqiang & Mao, Yanpeng, 2017. "Microwave-induced electrical discharge of metal strips for the degradation of biomass tar," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 42-52.
    2. Lee, Jechan & Kim, Ki-Hyun & Kwon, Eilhann E., 2017. "Biochar as a Catalyst," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 70-79.
    3. Hernández, J.J. & Saffe, A. & Collado, R. & Monedero, E., 2020. "Recirculation of char from biomass gasification: Effects on gasifier performance and end-char properties," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P1), pages 806-813.
    4. Korus, Agnieszka & Ravenni, Giulia & Loska, Krzysztof & Korus, Irena & Samson, Abby & Szlęk, Andrzej, 2021. "The importance of inherent inorganics and the surface area of wood char for its gasification reactivity and catalytic activity towards toluene conversion," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 479-497.
    5. Ravenni, Giulia & Sárossy, Zsuzsa & Ahrenfeldt, Jesper & Henriksen, Ulrik Birk, 2018. "Activity of chars and activated carbons for removal and decomposition of tar model compounds – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 1044-1056.
    6. Zhang, Zhikun & Zhu, Zongyuan & Shen, Boxiong & Liu, Lina, 2019. "Insights into biochar and hydrochar production and applications: A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 581-598.
    7. Wang, Shuxiao & Shan, Rui & Lu, Tao & Zhang, Yuyuan & Yuan, Haoran & Chen, Yong, 2020. "Pyrolysis char derived from waste peat for catalytic reforming of tar model compound," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    8. Qian, Kezhen & Kumar, Ajay & Zhang, Hailin & Bellmer, Danielle & Huhnke, Raymond, 2015. "Recent advances in utilization of biochar," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 1055-1064.
    9. David, E. & Kopač, J., 2021. "Efficient removal of tar from gas fraction resulting from thermo-chemical conversion of biomass using coal fly ash–based catalysts," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 1290-1302.
    10. Tejasvi Sharma & Diego M. Yepes Maya & Francisco Regis M. Nascimento & Yunye Shi & Albert Ratner & Electo E. Silva Lora & Lourival Jorge Mendes Neto & Jose Carlos Escobar Palacios & Rubenildo Vieira A, 2018. "An Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Gasification of Miscanthus Briquettes in a Double-Stage Downdraft Gasifier: Syngas, Tar, and Biochar Characterization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-23, November.
    11. Li, Longzhi & Yang, Zhijuan & Qin, Xiaomin & Chen, Jian & Yan, Keshuo & Zou, Guifu & Peng, Zhuoyan & Wang, Fumao & Song, Zhanlong & Ma, Chunyuan, 2019. "Toluene microwave-assisted reforming with CO2 or a mixed agent of CO2-H2O on Fe-doped activated biochar," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 358-366.
    12. Khiari, Besma & Jeguirim, Mejdi & Limousy, Lionel & Bennici, Simona, 2019. "Biomass derived chars for energy applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 253-273.
    13. Rakesh N, & Dasappa, S., 2018. "A critical assessment of tar generated during biomass gasification - Formation, evaluation, issues and mitigation strategies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 1045-1064.
    14. Liu, Haolin & Ye, Chao & Xu, Yousheng & Wang, Qisong, 2022. "Effect of activation conditions and iron loading content on the catalytic cracking of toluene by biochar," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    15. Guan, Guoqing & Kaewpanha, Malinee & Hao, Xiaogang & Abudula, Abuliti, 2016. "Catalytic steam reforming of biomass tar: Prospects and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 450-461.
    16. Shen, Yafei & Wang, Junfeng & Ge, Xinlei & Chen, Mindong, 2016. "By-products recycling for syngas cleanup in biomass pyrolysis – An overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 1246-1268.
    17. Li, Longzhi & Meng, Bo & Qin, Xiaomin & Yang, Zhijuan & Chen, Jian & Yan, Keshuo & Wang, Fumao, 2020. "Toluene microwave cracking and reforming over bio-char with in-situ activation and ex-situ impregnation of metal," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 1205-1213.
    18. Eleonora Cordioli & Francesco Patuzzi & Marco Baratieri, 2019. "Thermal and Catalytic Cracking of Toluene Using Char from Commercial Gasification Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-16, October.
    19. Shen, Yafei, 2015. "Chars as carbonaceous adsorbents/catalysts for tar elimination during biomass pyrolysis or gasification," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 281-295.
    20. Huang, Zhen & Zheng, Anqing & Deng, Zhengbing & Wei, Guoqiang & Zhao, Kun & Chen, Dezhen & He, Fang & Zhao, Zengli & Li, Haibin & Li, Fanxing, 2020. "In-situ removal of toluene as a biomass tar model compound using NiFe2O4 for application in chemical looping gasification oxygen carrier," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Anis, Samsudin & Zainal, Z.A., 2011. "Tar reduction in biomass producer gas via mechanical, catalytic and thermal methods: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(5), pages 2355-2377, June.
    2. Guan, Guoqing & Kaewpanha, Malinee & Hao, Xiaogang & Abudula, Abuliti, 2016. "Catalytic steam reforming of biomass tar: Prospects and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 450-461.
    3. Neves, Renato Cruz & Klein, Bruno Colling & da Silva, Ricardo Justino & Rezende, Mylene Cristina Alves Ferreira & Funke, Axel & Olivarez-Gómez, Edgardo & Bonomi, Antonio & Maciel-Filho, Rubens, 2020. "A vision on biomass-to-liquids (BTL) thermochemical routes in integrated sugarcane biorefineries for biojet fuel production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    4. Shen, Yafei & Yoshikawa, Kunio, 2013. "Recent progresses in catalytic tar elimination during biomass gasification or pyrolysis—A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 371-392.
    5. Toledo, Mario & Arriagada, Andrés & Ripoll, Nicolás & Salgansky, Eugene A. & Mujeebu, Muhammad Abdul, 2023. "Hydrogen and syngas production by hybrid filtration combustion: Progress and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    6. Thapa, Sunil & Indrawan, Natarianto & Bhoi, Prakashbhai R. & Kumar, Ajay & Huhnke, Raymond L., 2019. "Tar reduction in biomass syngas using heat exchanger and vegetable oil bubbler," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 402-409.
    7. Ma, Zhongqing & Zhang, Yimeng & Zhang, Qisheng & Qu, Yongbiao & Zhou, Jianbin & Qin, Hengfei, 2012. "Design and experimental investigation of a 190 kWe biomass fixed bed gasification and polygeneration pilot plant using a double air stage downdraft approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 140-147.
    8. Ud Din, Zia & Zainal, Z.A., 2016. "Biomass integrated gasification–SOFC systems: Technology overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1356-1376.
    9. Rakesh N, & Dasappa, S., 2018. "A critical assessment of tar generated during biomass gasification - Formation, evaluation, issues and mitigation strategies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 1045-1064.
    10. Se-Won Park & Sang-Yeop Lee & Yean-Ouk Jeong & Gun-Ho Han & Yong-Chil Seo, 2018. "Effects of Oxygen Enrichment in Air Oxidants on Biomass Gasification Efficiency and the Reduction of Tar Emissions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-13, October.
    11. Sun, Jing & Wang, Qing & Wang, Wenlong & Wang, Ke, 2018. "Study on the synergism of steam reforming and photocatalysis for the degradation of Toluene as a tar model compound under microwave-metal discharges," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 815-823.
    12. Antonio Molino & Vincenzo Larocca & Simeone Chianese & Dino Musmarra, 2018. "Biofuels Production by Biomass Gasification: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-31, March.
    13. Kafle, Sagar & Euh, Seung Hee & Cho, Lahoon & Nam, Yun Seong & Oh, Kwang Cheol & Choi, Yun Sung & Oh, Jae-Heun & Kim, Dae Hyun, 2017. "Tar fouling reduction in wood pellet boiler using additives and study the effects of additives on the characteristics of pellets," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 79-85.
    14. Chen, Hongfang & Namioka, Tomoaki & Yoshikawa, Kunio, 2011. "Characteristics of tar, NOx precursors and their absorption performance with different scrubbing solvents during the pyrolysis of sewage sludge," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(12), pages 5032-5041.
    15. Ud Din, Zia & Zainal, Z.A., 2017. "The fate of SOFC anodes under biomass producer gas contaminants," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 1050-1066.
    16. Shen, Yafei, 2015. "Chars as carbonaceous adsorbents/catalysts for tar elimination during biomass pyrolysis or gasification," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 281-295.
    17. Hu, Fu-Xiang & Yang, Guo-Hua & Ding, Guo-Zhu & Li, Zhen & Du, Ka-Shuai & Hu, Zhi-Fa & Tian, Su-Rui, 2016. "Experimental study on catalytic cracking of model tar compounds in a dual layer granular bed filter," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 47-57.
    18. Font Palma, Carolina, 2013. "Modelling of tar formation and evolution for biomass gasification: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 129-141.
    19. Xia Liu & Juntao Wei & Wei Huo & Guangsuo Yu, 2017. "Gasification under CO 2 –Steam Mixture: Kinetic Model Study Based on Shared Active Sites," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-10, November.
    20. Ahmed, A.M.A & Salmiaton, A. & Choong, T.S.Y & Wan Azlina, W.A.K.G., 2015. "Review of kinetic and equilibrium concepts for biomass tar modeling by using Aspen Plus," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 1623-1644.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:66:y:2014:i:c:p:346-353. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.