Torrefaction/carbonization-enhanced gasification-steam reforming of biomass for promoting hydrogen-enriched syngas production and tar elimination over gasification biochars

Biomass to H2-enriched syngas is a very promising route to produce clean energy. This work proposed a new concept of promoting H2-enriched syngas production and tar elimination through torrefaction/carbonization-enhanced gasification-steam reforming (T/CEGSR) of wheat straw (WS) over its gasification biochar materials (GCMs). WS torrefied at 280 °C (WS-280) subjected to gasification-steam reforming (GSR) over C-control presented the maximum gas yields and H2/CO molar ratio (1.72). By introducing C[10 %O2] for GSR of WS-280, the maximum cumulative gas yield (112.10 mmol/greactants), H2 yield (59.91 mmol/greactants), and syngas yield (94.10 mmol/greactants) were achieved. Furthermore, C[10 %O2] were superior to C-control, C[Ar] and C[CO2] in light of carbon conversion efficiency, cold gas efficiency, and tar yield, reaching 97.45C%, 118.40 %, and 3.36 g/Nm3, respectively. Simply put, this study provides a newly sustainable and promising route by combining biomass torrefaction/carbonization with GSR using gasification biochar for enhancing H2-enriched syngas production while reducing tar formation.