Gas production by steam gasification of polypropylene/biomass waste composites in a dual-bed reactor

Polypropylene/biomass waste composites and their constituents were gasified with steam by a two-stage process, in a dual-bed microreactor for the production of fuel gases. Gasification experiments were carried out at 700 °C gasification temperature in absence and presence of Fe₂O₃/CeO₂ catalyst. The gases produced during the process were mainly H₂, CO, CO₂, CH₄, and some light hydrocarbons. The use of Fe₂O₃/CeO₂ catalyst in the steam gasification of plastic, biomasses, and plastic/biomass composites resulted in the increase in production of gaseous products, indicating that the catalyst accelerated the gasification rate. Moreover, a synergistic effect of combining plastics with biomass was observed since the amount of H₂ production increased in the case of PP/biomass composites compared to the added contribution of production of H₂ from the individual components.