Sampling of benzene in tar matrices from biomass gasification using two different solid-phase sorbents

Abstract

Biomass tar mainly consists of stable aromatic compounds such as benzene and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, benzene being the biggest tar component in real biomass gasification gas. For the analysis of individual tar compounds, the solid-phase adsorption method was chosen. According to this method, tar samples are collected on a column with an amino-phase sorbent. With a high benzene concentration in biomass tar, some of the benzene will not be collected on the amino-phase sorbent. To get over this situation, we have installed another column with activated charcoal which is intended for collection of volatile organic compounds, including benzene, after the column with the amino-phase sorbent. The study of maximal adsorption amounts of various compounds on both adsorbents while testing different sampling volumes led to the conclusion that benzene is a limiting compound. The research proved that the use of two sorbents (500 mg + 100 mg) connected in series allows for assessment of tar in synthesis gas with a tar concentration up to 30-40 g m(-3), which corresponds to the requirements of most gasifiers.

Sampling of tar from sewage sludge gasification using solid phase adsorption

“…When collecting tar from gaseous sources using SPA methods, the gas volume usually sampled is 100 mL [14,16]. This volume is generally enough to reach the analytical detection limits for most tar compounds.…”

“…This definition excludes benzene as a tar despite being one of the major and more stable aromatic compounds in real gasification gas. Benzene may cause problems in catalytic gas conversion and has been classified by the EPA as a known human carcinogen of medium carcinogenic hazard [16,17]. Therefore, monitoring benzene is important from the standpoint of environmental and occupational health.…”

Millisecond catalytic reforming of monoaromatics over noble metals

“…An understanding of their catalytic degradation would provide insight for their utilization and processing. Gasification of biomass to synthesis gas (syngas) is a promising route for producing renewable fuels and chemicals; however, undesired tar byproducts require energy intensive cleanup stages 1. At ≥60 wt% of total contaminants, aromatics such as benzene and toluene are commonly used as research models for tars 1, 2.…”

“…Gasification of biomass to synthesis gas (syngas) is a promising route for producing renewable fuels and chemicals; however, undesired tar byproducts require energy intensive cleanup stages 1. At ≥60 wt% of total contaminants, aromatics such as benzene and toluene are commonly used as research models for tars 1, 2. Additionally, pyrolysis and gasification of plastic wastes have recently been examined as an alternative production route to fuels and chemicals.…”

Utilization of Volatile Organic Compounds as an Alternative for Destructive Abatement

“…The generation of aromatic hydrocarbons as by-products of biomass [136] and plastic gasification to synthesis gas [137,138] have driven more interest into investigating in details their catalytic conversion to hydrogen-rich gas streams. To assess the efficiency of a classical reforming process, model molecules such as benzene [139][140][141], toluene [142,143] are usually studied and can provide insight for the VOCs utilization and processing.…”