| Abstract | Gasification is a thermochemical process that converts solid, carbonaceous materials like biomass into synthesis gas (syngas), a mixture primarily composed of hydrogen (H₂) and carbon monoxide (CO), along with smaller amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄). The process occurs in an oxygen-limited environment and involves several stages: drying, pyrolysis, combustion, and gasification. Initially, the feedstock is dried to remove moisture, followed by pyrolysis, where large organic molecules are thermally decomposed into smaller gaseous compounds, char, and tar. Combustion of some syngas and char provides the heat required for the endothermic gasification reactions. Gasification agents, such as air, steam, or oxygen, influence the H₂/CO ratio in the syngas. Overall, such a process is highly flexible, allowing the use of various feedstocks, including renewable materials such as agricultural residues, municipal solid waste, and forestry residues. It has also been used for decades in the conversion of coal into syngas (for CHP or synthesis applications). Syngas can be used for heat and power generation, hydrogen production, or as feedstock for chemical synthesis, enabling polygeneration of energy and materials. |
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