Chemical-looping auto-thermal reforming of biomass using Cu-based oxygen carrier

Chemical-looping reforming (CLR) of biomass, which utilizes active lattice oxygen from oxygen carrier (OC), provides a novel route to convert biomass into synthesis gas. This research utilized Cu-based OC rather than commonly-used Fe- or Ni-based DC in the process. The possible advantage is the exothermic reactions between CuO and gasification products are beneficial to auto-thermal reforming of biomass in fuel reactor. Batch fluidized bed experiments with different carriers (silica sand, Fe-based or Cu-based OCs) were conducted at different temperatures. It was found that when using Cu-based OCs, the gas yield and carbon conversion efficiency increased sighificantly, but the gasification efficiency and low heating value decreased accordingly, which are ascribed to the high-reactivity Cu-based OCs prompt the carbon conversion and also consume more reducible gases. The presence of Cu-based OCs help reduce C(2)Hm and tar in syngas. Additionally, the tar content decreased with temperature increase, while C2Hm content first increased then decreased. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.