Gasification and woody biomass conversion

Gasification is seen as a key pathway towards hydrogen when starting from coal or lignin-containing biomass (wood, wood scrap or other solid-structure plant material). The gasification takes place by heating with steam  

Coal may be gasified in situ, i.e. before extraction. If the coal has already been mined, the traditional methods include the Lurgi fixed-bed gasifier (providing gas under pressure from non-caking coal at a conversion efficiency as low as 55%) and the Koppers-Totzek gasifier (oxygen input, gas at 

Calculated from the data for the idealised pyrolysis oil C HjO (AH = - 745.9 kcal mor AHf = 149.6 kcal g , where = heat of combustion and Hf = heat of fusion). 

Calculated for an idealised hydrocarbon with AH, as above. Hj is consumed. 

The mixture on the left-hand side of (2.25) is called synthesis gas . More details on the methanol production from biomass may be foimd in Sorensen (2004a). 

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