Waste furniture gasification using rice husk based char catalysts for enhanced hydrogen generation

Abstract

Present study provides biohydrogen production methods from waste furniture via catalytic steam gasification with bio-char catalysts (raw char, KOH-activated char and steam-activated char). Total gas yield for the prepared chars was in the order of KOH-activated char > steam-activated char > raw char, whereas, H-2 selectivity was in the sequence of raw char > steam-activated char > KOH-activated char. Though KOH-activated char showed the highest gas yield, highest H-2 selectivity was obtained at the gasification experiment with raw char due to the large amount of Ca and K and its reasonable surface area (146.89 m(2)/g). Although the activation of raw biochar results in the increase of gas yield, it has the negative effect on H-2 generation due to the removal of alkali and alkaline earth metals for the KOH activated char and steam-activated char. This study shows that raw bio-char could be a potential solution for eco-friendly hydrogen production.