Particulate emission from the gasification and pyrolysis of biomass: Concentration, size distributions, respiratory deposition-based control measure evaluation

Abstract

Gasification and pyrolysis technologies have been widely employed to produce fuels and chemicals from solid wastes. Rare studies have been conducted to compare the particulate emissions from gasification and pyrolysis, and relevant inhalation exposure assessment is still lacking. In this work, we characterized the particles emitted from the gasification and pyrolysis experiments under different temperatures (500, 600, and 700 °C). The collection efficiencies of existing cyclones were compared based on particle respiratory deposition. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify the most effective design parameters. The particles emitted from both gasification and pyrolysis process are mainly in the size range 0.25-1.0 μm and 1.0-2.5 μm. Particle respiratory deposition modelling showed that most particles penetrate deeply into the last stage of the respiratory system. At the nasal breathing mode, particles with sizes ranging from 0.25 to 1.0 μm account for around 91%, 74%, 76%, 90%, 84%, and 79% of the total number of particles that deposit onto the last stage in the cases of 500 °C gasification, 600 °C gasification, 700 °C gasification, 500 °C pyrolysis, 600 °C pyrolysis, and 700 °C pyrolysis, respectively. At the oral breathing mode, particles with sizes ranging from 0.25 to 1.0 μm account for around 92%, 77%, 79%, 91%, 86%, and 81% of the total number of particles that deposit onto the last stage in the six cases, respectively. Sensitivity analysis showed that the particle removal efficiency was found to be most sensitive to the cyclone vortex finder diameter (D). This work could potentially serve as the basis for proposing health protective measures against the particulate pollution from gasification and pyrolysis technologies.

Widespread N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine Quinone in Size-Fractioned Atmospheric Particles and Dust of Different Indoor Environments

“…This study first explored the size distribution of 6-PPDQ in inhalable coarse particles. The respiration deposition efficiency of particles and induced health effects are partially dependent on particle size, such as that of halogenated flame retardants. ,, On the basis of the sampler design principles, , the 0–2 (4.7–10 μm), 3–5 (1.1–4.7 μm), and 6–7 (0.43–1.1 μm) impactor stages roughly represented the corresponding deposition regions of the head airways (HA), tracheobronchial (TB), and pulmonary alveoli (PA) areas in the human respirational system. Collectively, approximately 62%–71% of the target 6-PPDQ was predominantly deposited in the HA area, and a lower proportion than that, of 15%–23% and 11%–14%, was observed in the TB and PA areas, respectively (Table S4).…”

Methodology for Selecting an Ideal Thermal Gasification Technique for Municipal Solid Waste Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

“…Environmental performance includes emissions like carbon dioxide during the combustion reactions and passage across the bed without conversion to carbon monoxide. Methane emissions are possible during the storage of waste before gasification [36]. Normally, fixed-bed gasifiers have acceptability to higher sizes of feedstock compared with fluidized bed gasifiers.…”

Concentrated solar thermochemical gasification of biomass: Principles, applications, and development

“…Meanwhile, it was also demonstrated that CFD modelling could achieve more detailed and accurate results as it incorporates the factors of reactor design, fluid mechanics, mass and heat transfer, etc [125,126]. Highly accurate simulations become necessary and useful for predicting product composition and optimal process condition [127][128][129], as well as providing the basis for downstream techniques such as techno-economic analysis (TEA) [130,131] and life-cycle assessment (LCA) [132,133].…”