Gasification of sago dreg waste in a top-lit updraft fixed bed gasifier: Syngas composition and its effect with additional Al2O3 as catalyst

[Display omitted] •Sago waste as renewable energy is converted into syngas through TULD gasification.•Sago waste pellets with Al2O3 catalyst increase syngas (H2, CO, CH4) for alternative energy.•Al2O3 catalyst in sago waste increases the production of H2 (31.65 %), CO (4.33 %), and CH4 (26.45 %).•Sago waste with Al2O3 catalyst has high potential as an alternative fuel for internal combustion engines. Sago-based foods have become a staple food in eastern Indonesia. Sago waste, as a by-product, has the potential to be used as a renewable energy fuel. This research aims to use sago dregs waste as an energy source by converting it into renewable energy using Top Lit Updraft (TULD) fixed bed gasification. Al2O3, a potential solid waste derived from coal fly ash, is also being investigated for use in sago dreg pellets.The two various Al2O3 contents in sago dreg pellets that will be examined with 5 % Al2O3 and 10 % Al2O3. Operational parameters employed in the gasification process involving the TULD reactor, such as gasification temperature, air flow rate, air-to-fuel ratio (AFR), and syngas assessment. According to the results, adding Al2O3 as a catalyst to sago dreg pellets can improve syngas production (H2, CO, and CH4). The most significant alteration is that the average hydrogen gas (H2) content has increased, with the greatest being in 5 % Al2O3 with 31.65 %, and 10 % Al2O3 with 29.94 %. Meanwhile, the CO and CH4 gas content was found to be highest at 10 % Al2O3, with each experiencing an increase in average (CO 4.33 % and CH4 26.45 %) as compared to sago dregs pellets without Al2O3. Finally, sago dregs pellets with an Al2O3 catalyst have a high potential as an alternative energy fuel for internal combustion engines with H2/CO of 1.65 and 1.51 respectively, for 5 % Al2O3 and 10 % Al2O3, with low tar content.