Speaker
Apply to be<br> considered for a student <br> award (Yes / No)?
yes
Level for award<br> (Hons, MSc, <br> PhD, N/A)?
MSc
Main supervisor (name and email)<br>and his / her institution
Prof. S. Mamphweli
SMamphweli@ufh.ac.za
Please indicate whether<br>this abstract may be<br>published online<br>(Yes / No)
yes
Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)?
no
Abstract content <br> (Max 300 words)<br><a href="http://events.saip.org.za/getFile.py/access?resId=0&materialId=0&confId=34" target="_blank">Formatting &<br>Special chars</a>
Gasification of biomass for production of heat and power has become an attractive research area in recent years. This is as a result of the challenges associated with the use of non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels. Gasification, when compared to other thermochemical conversion mechanisms such as combustion and pyrolysis, has proven to be an efficient means of converting biomass to a gaseous product with more flexible applications. Sugarcane bagasse is the fibrous residue remaining after the extraction of the sucrose-rich juice from sugarcane stalks. Previously excess sugarcane bagasse was burned as a means of solid waste disposal but has presently been identified as a valuable feedstock for gasification and combustion in boilers. Sugarcane basically contains high levels of silicon (Si) and oxygen (O2) as a plant. These react to form silica during the gasification of sugarcane bagasse. Silica has impacts on the operation of a downdraft gasifier and affects the gas production. Channeling, slagging and sintering of ash and other by products in the gasifiers are some of the problems caused by silica.
Sugarcane bagasse varies in chemical composition and physical properties which is traceable to the climate and soil in which it is grown, variety of cane, level of washing and the harvesting method employed. Hence characterization of sugarcane is essential for its efficient use as a feedstock during gasification. This research addresses the impacts of silica during the gasification of sugarcane bagasse in a downdraft gasifier. Silica levels will be traced from the sugarcane bagasse before and after gasification. Washed and unwashed bagasse will be used for the experiments. Detailed elemental and morphological characterization of washed, unwashed and depithed sugarcane bagasse will be presented in this report.
