Plasma thermal conversion of bio-oil for hydrogen production

Numerous processes exist or are proposed for the energetic conversion of biomass. The use of thermal plasma is proposed in the frame of the GALACSY project for the conversion of bio-oil to hydrogen and carbon monoxide. For this purpose, an experimental apparatus has been built. The feasibility of this conversion at very high temperature, as encountered in thermal plasma, is examined both experimentally and numerically. This zero dimensional study tends to show that a high temperature (around 2500K or above) is needed to ensure a high yield of hydrogen (about 50mol%) and about 95 mol% of CO+H2. Predicted CO?+?H2 yield and CO/H2 ratio are consistent with measurements. It is also expected that the formation of particles and tars is hampered. Thermodynamic data of selected bio-oil components are provided in the CHEMKINNASA format. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.