Heterogeneous solid residue from macadamia nut processing as viable feedstock for high-temperature gasification

Abstract

This study delves into the intriguing prospect of concurrently utilizing macadamia husk and nutshell for biomass gasification, aiming to generate sustainable energy. By scrutinizing their physicochemical properties such as thermal behaviors, char conversion kinetics, and syngas properties we unveiled an intriguing revelation. The fusion of these residues creates an apt feedstock for biomass batch-gasification in industrial settings. This resultant blend inherits distinctive traits from its constituent parts, profoundly influencing gasification reactivity and fostering heightened char conversion efficiency and stability. Spanning 2165 s, this process exhibited commendable control. Furthermore, the residue amalgamation consistently yields an average syngas flow rate of 0.00136 [mol (g minute)⁻¹], predominantly composed of CO at 0.00097 [mol (g minute)⁻¹], constituting over 71 % of the syngas. These findings underscore the potential of merging these residues to optimize the conversion process and bolster resource availability, thus propelling advancements in waste-free energy production and sustainable energy technologies.