Hydrogen-rich fuel gas production from refuse plastic fuel pyrolysis and steam gasification

In this study, experimental conditions were optimized to maximize the production of hydrogen gas from refuse plastic fuel (RPF) by pyrolysis and steam gasification processes conducted in a laboratory-scale reactor. We carried out gasification using 10-g RPF samples at different temperatures (700°-1000°C) with and without steam. The effect of the amount of steam (0–0.25 g/min) for RPF steam gasification was also studied. The effect of K₂CO₃ as a catalyst on these processes was also investigated. Experimental results showed that the hydrogen gas yield increased with temperature; with respect to the gas composition, the hydrogen content increased mainly at the expense of other gaseous compounds, which highlights the major extension of secondary cracking reactions in the gaseous fraction at higher temperatures.