Optimization of Syngas via tar reduction on empty palm fruit bunch (EFB) bubbling fluidized bed gasification using bentonite

Biomass gasification technology is an attractive issue because its necessity has gradually increased amid many efforts to reduce fossil fuel consumption by total substitution or certain combination masses between fossil and biomass feedstock. In this research, catalytic testing was carried out on a bubbling fluidized bed gasification system using local bentonite from Pacitan, East Java – Indonesia as the bed particle. Silica sand was selected to get comparation performance since it is commonly used as bed material in fluidized bed gasification. The Umf values are 0,011 m/s and 0.031 m/s at a pressure difference (ΔP) of around 781 Pa. Gasification in the hot model system was taking place in superficial velocity into 4 Umf with the temperature at 700°C. Bentonite gave better fluidization stability, during sampling addition without significant agglomeration formation based on ΔP activities. The tar reduction was also more effective on bentonite compared to silica sand, shown by a decrement amount of tar that could be trapped in the tar capture system. The tar that was soluble on the acetone solvent in the cold trap sharply decreased becoming 52% from 186.33 g for silica sand to 89.49 g for bentonite application.