Conference article

Use of lignocellulosic biomass as an alternative; renewable and sustainable source of energy has fulfilled part of the growing demand for energy in developed countries. Amongst various technologies applied to convert biomass wastes to biofuel and bioenergy; biomass gasification has attracted considerable attention. In this work; gasification of palm empty fruit bunch as a potential lignocellulosic waste was investigated in a pilot scale air-blown fluidized bed. Silica sand and dolomite were used as bed material. The bed temperature was varied in the range of 650 to 1050 ^{oC. The quality of the producer gas (H₂₂23 were achieved using silica sand and dolomite. Maximum dry gas yield of 1.84 and 1.79 (Nm3gas/kg biomass); carbon conversion of 91 and 85% and cold gas efficiency of 69 and 65% were obtained for silica sand and dolomite; respectively. Although the quality of the produced gas was considerably improved at high temperatures; however formation of the bed agglomerates was the major concern at temperatures above 800 and 850 oC for silica sand and sawdust.}

Biomass gasification; Fluidized bed; Gas producer; Palm empty fruit bunch