Microwave-assisted gasification of biomass for sustainable and energy-efficient biohydrogen and biosyngas production: A state-of-the-art review

Arjay A Arpia; Thanh-Binh Nguyen; Wei-Hsin Chen; Cheng-Di Dong; Yong Sik Ok

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132014

Microwave-assisted gasification of biomass for sustainable and energy-efficient biohydrogen and biosyngas production: A state-of-the-art review

Chemosphere. 2022 Jan;287(Pt 1):132014. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132014. Epub 2021 Aug 25.

Authors

Arjay A Arpia¹, Thanh-Binh Nguyen², Wei-Hsin Chen³, Cheng-Di Dong⁴, Yong Sik Ok⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan.
² Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, 81157, Taiwan.
³ Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan; Research Center for Smart Sustainable Circular Economy, Tunghai University, Taichung, 407, Taiwan; Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung, 411, Taiwan. Electronic address: weihsinchen@gmail.com.
⁴ Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, 81157, Taiwan. Electronic address: cddong@nkust.edu.tw.
⁵ Korea Biochar Research Center, APRU Sustainable Waste Management & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.

PMID: 34523445
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132014

Abstract

Biohydrogen and biosyngas are among the sustainable bioenergy products from biomass resources through gasification. Microwave-assisted gasification (MAG) is still a novel technology, but it is definitely a promising conversion technology to achieve a sustainable bioeconomy. Although this technology shows a massive potential to be fully implemented in the near future, the selectivity and efficiency of biohydrogen and syngas production still need enhancements and further research to secure a cost-effective and energy-efficient industrialization. This article comprehensively reviews the regular, microwave-induced plasma, and catalytic MAG systems in relation to their biohydrogen and biosyngas production, carbon conversion efficiency, and tar removal while discussing the significance of optimal operating conditions and considerations in the gasification system design. Several perspectives such as benefits, challenges, numerical simulations, and scalable opportunities are also explored to provide factual insights for further research and industrial application.

Keywords: Bioenergy and bioeconomy; Biohydrogen; Microwave gasification; Microwave plasma gasification; Synthesis gas or syngas.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biomass
Carbon*
Catalysis
Microwaves*
Technology

Substances

Carbon