Investigation of Indonesian low rank coals gasification in a fixed bed reactor with K₂CO₃ catalyst loading

Catalytic steam gasification is considered one of promising technologies for converting solid carbonaceous feedstocks into hydrogen-rich syngas, which is an important source of hydrogen for various industrial sectors. The K₂CO₃-catalyzed steam gasification of low rank coals (LRCs) was conducted in a fixed bed reactor for elucidating the effects of gasifying temperature and catalyst loading amount on hydrogen yield. Hydrogen-rich syngas can be obtained at gasifying temperature of 800 °C and loading amount of 10 wt% K₂CO₃. The loading amount of 10 wt% K₂CO₃ was the saturation point and provided a good gasification reactivity in catalytic steam gasification of three LRCs. The experimental data of these three LRCs were well described by the random pore model (RPM). The RPM fitted the experimental data at 800 °C better than the experimental data obtained at 700 °C and 600 °C. Reactivity index (R_0.5), activation energy (Ea) and reaction rate constant (k) were also used to predict the characteristics of the K₂CO₃-catalyzed steam gasification process. Catalytic steam gasification utilizing the mixture of three LRCs as a feedstock was also investigated and displayed X_C of 86.22% and 0.95 mol mol⁻¹-C, indicating a good feasibility and potential industrial applications.