Steam gasification of Miscanthus X Giganteus with olivine as catalyst production of syngas and analysis of tars (IR, NMR and GC/MS)

Steam gasification of Miscanthus X Giganteus (MXG) at high heating rate in a fluidised bed reactor with the use of olivine as catalyst was investigated. The effects of temperature (815-880 degrees C) on the yields and the compositions of syngas and tars were determined. The experimental results show that the gas yields and the content of H-2 increase with the temperature, while the yields of tar, char and the content of CO, CO2 and CH4 in the product gas decrease. Noteworthy is that about 1.1 m(3) of dry gas (at ambient conditions) per kg of dry ash free biomass were obtained with about 46% of H-2 and 24% of CO by volume at 880 degrees C. The tars composition was determined by FTIR, NMR and GC/MS. The identification of different compounds shows mainly the presence of simple molecules. This may be facilitating the possibility of complete tar reforming process (hot gas cleaning), to improvement of the syngas yield and the decrease of the formation of pollutants. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.