Co-gasification of biomass and oil shale under CO2 atmosphere: Comparative analysis of fixed-bed reactor, gas chromatography and thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectroscopy (TGA-MS)

Abstract

Co-gasification of biomass with oil shale offers potential for integrating renewable and fossil energy sources, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Biomass (pine and birch wood and bark) and oil shale blends (10-30 wt%) were gasified under CO₂ conditions using thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry (TGA-MS), fixed-bed reactor, and gas chromatography. Results revealed an interaction between oil shale and biomass, enhancing CO and CH₄ concentrations in the producer gas. Bark samples demonstrated higher CO concentrations compared to wood samples, particularly in pine, with 16.1 vol% and 5.4 vol%, respectively. While birch wood showed increased H₂ evaporation in TGA-MS experiments, oil shale's impact on H₂ concentration was inhibitive, as shown by quantitative analysis. Pine bark, with a threefold catalytic index compared to other biomass samples, demonstrated the highest total gas concentrations (19.2 vol%). Interestingly, pine bark char blends exhibited the lowest surface areas (up to 434 m²/g) among the tested samples.

Keywords: Biomass; Co-gasification; Oil shale; Synergetic effect.