A highly integrated ceramic membrane-based reactor for intensifying the
biomass gasification to clean syngas
Abstract
Biomass gasification for syngas production is one of key operating units
in the biomass utilization process, however its overall efficiency and
stability are normally limited by the presence of complex impurities
including particulate matters (PMs) and tars. Herein, a highly
integrated ceramic membrane-based reactor was developed for high
temperature syngas cleaning to allow the efficient in situ
removal of PMs and tars from bio-vapours generated by biomass
gasification. In specific, silicon carbide (SiC) membrane could in
situ separate the PMs from biomass volatiles, while structured Ni
15La 5/S1-SiC catalyst (nickel and
lanthanum-laden silicalite-1 zeolite supported on SiC foam) could
promote the catalytic reforming of tars. Compared to other control
reactors (i.e., with either membrane or catalyst alone), the integrated
reactor demonstrated synergistic intensification in producing clean
syngas from biomass gasification, with PM and tar removal efficiencies
up to ~97% and ~90%, respectively, and
excellent stability in five-cycle evaluations at 800 °C.