Filtration
failure occurs when filter media are blocked by accumulated
solid particles. Suitable operating conditions were investigated for
cake cleaning by partial oxidation of filter-cake particles (FCPs)
during biomass gasification. The mechanism of the FCP partial oxidation
was investigated in a ceramic filter and by using thermogravimetric
analysis through a temperature-programmed route in a 2 vol % O2–N2 environment. Partial oxidation of the
FCPs in the simulated product gas environment was examined at 300–600
°C in a ceramic filter that was set and heated in a laboratory-scale
fixed reactor. Four reaction stages, namely, drying, preoxidation,
complex oxidation, and nonoxidation, occurred in the FCP partial oxidation
when the temperature increased from 30 to 800 °C in a 2 vol %
O2–N2 environment. Partial oxidation
was more effective for FCP mass loss from 275 to 725 °C. Experimental
results obtained in a ceramic filter indicated that the best operating
temperature and FCP loading occurred at 400 °C and 1.59 g/cm2, respectively. The FCPs were characterized before and after
partial oxidation by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning
electron microscopy, and Brunaeur–Emmett–Teller analysis.
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that partial
oxidation of the FCPs can result in a significant decrease in C–H
n
(alkyl and aromatic) groups and an increase
in CO (carboxylic acids) groups. The scanning electron microscopy
and Brunaeur–Emmett–Teller analyses suggest that, during
partial oxidation, the FCPs underwent pore or pit formation, expansion,
amalgamation, and destruction.