Synergistic effects of biomass components and coal co-gasification: insights from thermogravimetric and reactor analysis

Co-gasification of biomass and coal offers a strategic approach to enhance the sustainability of energy resources by exploiting the inherent synergies between various biomass components (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) and coal. This study investigates the co-gasification in a downdraft fixed-bed reactor, focusing on the impacts on gas yield, calorific value, and carbon structure transformations. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed parameter-specific effects of biomass components during gasification. At a 50 wt% blending ratio, cellulose significantly enhances gasification, increasing calorific value and CO production beyond theoretical predictions. In contrast, lignin inclusion at a 70 wt% ratio decreases the calorific value and CO production by 6.44% and 11.21%, respectively. Additionally, hemicellulose is found to catalytically enhance CO2 conversion, with a maximum increase of 45.99% at a 70 wt% ratio. The study elucidates the differential impacts of each biomass component on the co-gasification process and underscores the potential of optimizing biomass blends to maximize the efficiency and sustainability of energy production.