title: Gasification of Woody Biomass.
abstract: Interest in biomass to produce heat, power, liquid fuels, hydrogen, and value-added chemicals with reduced greenhouse gas emissions is increasing worldwide. Gasification is becoming a promising technology for biomass utilization with a positive environmental impact. This review focuses specifically on woody biomass gasification and recent advances in the field. The physical properties, chemical structure, and composition of biomass greatly affect gasification performance, pretreatment, and handling. Primary and secondary catalysts are of key importance to improve the conversion and cracking of tars, and lime-enhanced gasification advantageously combines CO2 capture with gasification. These topics are covered here, including the reaction mechanisms and biomass characterization. Experimental research and industrial experience are investigated to elucidate concepts, processes, and characteristics of woody biomass gasification and to identify challenges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z3; email: naoko.ellis@ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saayman
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis*; D018533:Biomass; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D016877:Oxidants / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D014934:Wood / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D005740:Gases; D016877:Oxidants; D002245:Carbon Dioxide
keywords: CO2 capture; biomass handling; catalysis; gasification; woody biomass