Gasification Kinetics of Biomass Char

Gasification kinetics of biomass char examines the rate and mechanisms by which carbonaceous residues derived from thermal decomposition of biomass react with gasifying agents such as carbon dioxide, steam or air. These reactions underpin the conversion of solid bioresources into synthesis gas and hydrogen, offering pathways to renewable energy, negative-emission technologies and chemical feedstocks. Reaction rates are governed by intrinsic factors—char microstructure, surface functional groups and inorganic catalysts—and extrinsic conditions such as temperature, pressure and gas composition. Models ranging from the shrinking-core and volumetric descriptions to the random pore framework quantify the interplay between chemical reaction and pore evolution, capturing phenomena such as pore widening, catalyst dispersion and structural reorganisation. Experimental approaches, notably thermogravimetric analysis, enable determination of activation energies and reaction orders under isothermal or dynamic conditions. Advances in in situ imaging, micro-CT and spectroscopic probes have elucidated the morphological transformations that control gasification reactivity. A thorough understanding of kinetics supports optimisation of industrial gasifiers, scale-up of negative-emission processes and strategic integration with carbon capture utilising the Boudouard reaction.

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Gasification Kinetics of Biomass Char publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in gasification kinetics of biomass char across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Biomass char: Solid carbonaceous residue remaining after thermal decomposition of biomass.

Gasification kinetics: Study of reaction rates and mechanisms by which char converts to gaseous products.

Activation energy: Minimum energy required to initiate a chemical reaction.

Random pore model: Kinetic framework that accounts for evolving pore structure during gasification.

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA): Experimental technique for measuring mass change of a sample under controlled temperature.

Thiele modulus: Dimensionless number quantifying the ratio of reaction rate to diffusion rate within porous particles.

References

1. CO2 char gasification: A systematic review from 2014 to 2020. Energy Conversion and Management X (2021).
2. Comparison of kinetic models for isothermal CO2 gasification of coal char-biomass char blended char. International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (2015).
3. Reactivity Effects of Inorganic Content in Biomass Gasification: A Review. Energies (2022).
4. The Influence of Char Preparation and Biomass Type on Char Steam Gasification Kinetics. Energies (2018).
5. The significance of intraparticle and interparticle diffusion during CO2 gasification of biomass char in a packed bed. Fuel (2022).