Production of H2 and medium heating value gas via steam gasification of lignins in fixed‐bed reactors

In this work, steam gasification of Alcell and Kraft lignins were carried out in a fixed-bed reactor in order to produce H2 and medium heating value gas. The conversion of lignins increased from a low of 64 wt% for Alceil lignin to a high of 88 wt% for Kraft lignin with increasing steam flow rate and temperature. Maximum H2 production of 60.7 mol% was obtained at 800°C and at a steam flow rate of 15 g/h/g of Kraft lignin, whereas maximum heating value of 18000 kl/m3 of the product gas was obtained at 650°C and at 5 g/h/g of Alcell lignin. Also, the performance of a Ni-based steam reforming catalyst for the production of H2 was studied for both types of lignin in a dual fixed-bed reaction system. A maximum H2 production of 63 mol% was obtained at a catalyst bed temperature of 750°C and at a catalyst loading of 0.3 g for Alcell lignin. The sulfur present in Kraft lignin had detrimental effect on the catalyst performance. On a effectue dans ce travail la gazeification a la vapeur de lignines Alcell et Kraft dans un reacteur a lit fixe afin de produire du H2 et du gaz de pouvoir calorifique moyen. La conversion des lignines augmente d'une valeur basse de 64 % en poids pour la lignine Alcell a une valeur haute de 88 % en poids pour la lignine Kraft lorsqu'on augmente le debit de vapeur et la temperature. On obtient une production de H2 maximale de 60,7 mol % a 800°C et a un debit de vapeur de 15 g/h/g de lignine Kraft, tandis qu'une valeur de pouvoir calorifique maximale de 18000 kj/m3 de gaz de produit est obtenue a 650°C et a 5 g/h/g de lignine Alcell. On a egalement etudie la performance d'un catalyseur de reformage a la vapeur base sur du Ni pour la production de H2, pour les deux types de lignines dans un systeme de reaction a lit fixe double. Une production de H2 maximale de 63 % mol % est obtenue a une temperature de lit de catalyseur de 750°C et a une charge de catalyseur de 0,3 g pour la lignine Alcell. Le soufre present dans la lignine Kraft a un effet nuisible sur la performance du catalyseur.

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