Tar and Trace Element Measurements in Synthesis Gas from a Pressurized Black Liquor Gasifier

• Main Authors: Johansson, A.C., Öhrman, O.G.W., Pettersson, E., Sweeney, D.
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: ETA-Florence Renewable Energies 2013
• Subjects: Biomass; Piteå
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5071/21steubce2013-2cv.3.43; http://www.etaflorence.it/proceedings?detail=8844

Tar formation is one of the major challenges associated with biomass gasification. Tar is an undesirable product both due to technical issues but also due to environmental issues. In addition to tars, other trace elements originating from the biomass feedstock can become problematic for catalytic upgrading into synthetic fuels. Therefore, the concentration of tar and trace elements in the cold synthesis gas from a pressurized entrained flow black liquor gasifier located in Piteå, Sweden, were determined in this work to ensure proper gas cleaning in future scale up plants. Tar in the cold and non­filtered synthesis gas was analyzed both according to the CEN Tar Measurement Standard and by using solid phase adsorption (SPA) measurements. The results showed low concentrations of tar, 4­9 mg/Nm3 of total GC­detectable tar, according to the CEN Standard and slightly higher concentrations using the SPA measurements. Naphthalene was found to be the major tar component and contributed approximately 50 % of the total tar content. Trace elements in the synthesis gas were observed in very low concentrations. : Proceedings of the 21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 3-7 June 2013, Copenhagen, Denmark, pp. 858-862