A comparison of the decomposition of biomass gasification tar compound in CO, CO₂, H₂ and N₂ carrier gases using non-thermal plasma

In this study, a comparative decomposition of toluene was investigated using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor. The first-time decomposition of the tar model compound was investigated in pure CO gas. The effect of each carrier gas (N₂, H₂, CO₂ and CO), which exists in product gas from the gasifier, was studied on the decomposition of tar analogue (toluene) and product distribution. The specific input energy (SIE) was also varied from 2.5 to 8.5 kJ/L to investigate the optimal removal of tar analogue. The maximum removal of toluene was 89.1% using N₂ as carrier gas at 8.5 kJ/L and 1.43 s. However, the minimum removal of toluene was 62.5% using CO carrier gas under the same conditions. The decomposition of toluene in different carrier gases was in the following order: CO < CO₂ < H₂ < N₂. Moreover, the distribution of products depends on the nature of the carrier gas as well. However, lower hydrocarbons (LHC) (<C₇) and solid residues were observed in each carrier gas. The maximum yield of LHC was about 10.8% in H₂ carrier gas, whereas in CO and CO₂ it remained below 1% even at 8.5 kJ/L.