title: Co-gasification of biosolids with biomass: Thermogravimetric analysis and pilot scale study in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor.
abstract: This work studied the feasibility of co-gasification of biosolids with biomass as a means of disposal with energy recovery. The kinetics study at 800°C showed that biomass, such as switchgrass, could catalyze the reactions because switchgrass ash contained a high proportion of potassium, an excellent catalyst for gasification. However, biosolids could also inhibit gasification due to interaction between biomass alkali/alkaline earth metals and biosolids clay minerals. In the pilot scale experiments, increasing the proportion of biosolids in the feedstock affected gasification performance negatively. Syngas yield and char conversion decreased from 1.38 to 0.47m(3)/kg and 82-36% respectively as the biosolids proportion in the fuel increased from 0% to 100%. Over the same range, the tar content increased from 10.3 to 200g/m(3), while the ammonia concentration increased from 1660 to 19,200ppmv. No more than 25% biosolids in the fuel feed is recommended to maintain a reasonable gasification.
authors.affiliation: Clean Energy Research Centre, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors.forename: Ming Ming
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Clean Energy Research Centre, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. Electronic address: s.masnadi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Masnadi
authors.affiliation: Clean Energy Research Centre, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.affiliation: Clean Energy Research Centre, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors.forename: Xiaotao T
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.affiliation: Clean Energy Research Centre, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors.forename: C Jim
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Highbury Energy Inc., Suite 1820 Cathedral Place, 925 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L2, Canada.
authors.forename: Yonghua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D002384:Catalysis; D005740:Gases; D007700:Kinetics; D008897:Panicum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases
keywords: Biomass; Biosolids; Bubbling fluidized bed; Co-gasification; Thermogravimetric analysis