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The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the biomass particle size on the changes in char structure during the gasification in steam of mallee woody biomass. The experiments with continuous or sudden supply of steam were conducted using a fluidized-bed/fixed-bed quartz reactor. The structural features of chars were then characterized using Fourier transform (FT)-Raman spectroscopy. Our results indicate that the effects of the biomass particle size on char structure were minimal when the biomass was heated slowly while being in continuous contact with steam. On the contrary, when the biomass was first pyrolyzed in argon and then suddenly came into contact with steam, the biomass particle size could have a profound effect on the subsequent evolution of char structure during gasification. For the large biomass particles (>5 mm), the ratio between small and big aromatic ring systems in the char showed a maximum value after around 30 s of contact with steam.

An Australian mallee wood of different particle sizes was gasified in steam in a fluidized-bed reactor at different temperatures. The structural features of chars, combustion reactivity of chars, and alkali and alkaline earth metallic (AAEM) species retention in chars were investigated in view to elucidate how the particle size affects the carbon conversion during steam gasification of biomass. The structural features and combustion reactivity of chars were investigated using Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric anlysis, respectively. The Raman intensity and combustion reactivity of chars were seen to decrease with increasing temperature. However, the combustion reactivity of char increased with increasing biomass particle size in the bigger particle range (1.5−5.18 mm). This is due mainly to the increase of catalytic species (AAEM) retention in chars. The increased AAEM retention and condensation of aromatic ring systems are a result of increasing mass transfer resistance in bigger particles of biomass.

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