Chemical looping co-gasification of lignite and rice husk for syngas generation with a Co decorated Cu-based oxygen carrier

In this work, the steam gasification and chemical looping gasification (CLG) of lignite and rice husk (LRH) over 5% Co3O4/CuO oxygen carrier were conducted on a fixed-bed system by non-isothermal method. The non-isothermal oxygen uncoupling experiments showed that the oxygen uncoupling temperature of 5% Co3O4/CuO (730°C) was lower than that of CuO (800°C). It was ascribed to the synergy of CuO and Co3O4. The gasification results showed that the yields of gas products (H2, CO, CO2 and CH4) in CLG of lignite or rice husk were higher than that in steam gasification because of the catalytic function of Co3O4/CuO oxygen carrier. Moreover, the catalysis of K and the transferring of active OH and H radicals from the biomass to the coal will show a synergetic effect between LRH. So the yields of gas products in chemical looping co-gasification (CLCG) were also higher than that in steam co-gasification or individual CLG. Furthermore, the carbon conversion rate in CLCG of LRH was 24.99% higher than that in steam co-gasification. It showed that CLCG of coal and biomass was effective for syngas generation, and the presence of 5% Co3O4/CuO oxygen carrier enhanced the generation of syngas.