Biomass gasification Impurities

The increased efficiency in IGCC systems translates into environmental benefits because emissions per unit energy produced are lower. This includes CO, NOx, SOx, C02, and particulates. NOx and SOx emissions are inherently lower in biomass IGCC systems because biomass fuels tend to have low N and S contents to start with, and gas cleanup and conditioning in biomass gasification systems removes these impurities before the syngas is combusted in the gas turbine. The same is true for particulates. C02 emissions are effectively zero, because biomass is a renewable fuel. 

Moilanen, A., Kurkela, E., Laatikainen-Luntama, J. (1999). Ash behaviour in biomass fluidised-bed gasification. In Gupta et al. (eds.). Impact of mineral impurities in solid fuel combustion. New York Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers. Pp. 555 - 567. 

The use of adherent refractory mixed conducting catalysts on the partial oxidation surface of OTMs permits gasification of carbonaceous soUd feedstocks such as coal fines and biomass to be realized. Refractory catalysts can be selected which not only mediate oxygen to the reaction site from the membrane bulk, but more importantly can be tailored to have high resistance to potentially poisoning impurities, typified by sulfur-containing materials, present in the gasified feedstock. 

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