Reaction products from the subcritical water gasification of food wastes and glucose with NaOH and H2O2

Abstract

The gasification of some selected components of food wastes using H(2)O(2) as the oxidant and in the presence of NaOH has been investigated under subcritical water conditions. Hydrogen production was enhanced when both NaOH and H(2)O(2) were used compared to when either NaOH or H(2)O(2) alone was used or in their absence. Results indicated that the H(2)O(2) acted to partially oxidize the samples while NaOH significantly increased hydrogen gas yields by promoting the water-gas shift reaction with subsequent CO(2) capture. In the presence of NaOH, the main components were Na(2)CO(3), CH(3)COONa and CH(3)COONa.3H(2)O. Char and tar production were suppressed in the presence of NaOH.