Samsudin Anis, Z.A. Zainal, M.Z.A. Bakar
A new effective RF tar thermocatalytic treatment process with low energy intensive has been proposed to remove tar from biomass gasification. Toluene and naphthalene as biomass tar model compounds were removed via both thermal and catalytic treatment over a wide temperature range from 850. °C to 1200. °C and 450. °C to 900. °C, respectively at residence time of 0-0.7. s. Thermal characteristics of the new technique are also described in this paper. This study clearly clarified that toluene was much easier to be removed than naphthalene. Soot was found as the final product of thermal treatment of the tar model and completely removed during catalytic treatment. Radical reactions generated by RF non-thermal effect improve the tar removal. The study showed that Y-zeolite has better catalytic activity compared to dolomite on toluene and naphthalene removal due to its acidic nature and large surface area, even at lower reaction temperature of about 550. °C. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.
School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Engineering Campus, Malaysia; School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Engineering Campus, Malaysia; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Gunungpati, 50229 Semarang, Kampus Sekaran, Indonesia
