Biomass waste gasification in order to reduce air pollution

Abstract

Climate change is a major challenge of our times, described as a complex area in which we must improve the knowledge and understanding to take the most appropriate measures, in order to minimize the effects and, if possible, to restore climate equilibrium [1]. Due to energy crisis, research was oriented towards finding new possibilities to produce low cost energy with minimum environmental impact. One of the most important ways to produce green low cost energy is by converting residual biomass into energy by transforming biomass into biogas through anaerobe digestion or through coincineration with solid fuels[2, 3]. This paper presents the results of two case studies developed in order to calculate the pollution reduction by transforming biomass into energy through biogas production or coincineration. First case study aims to estimate the emission decrease of greenhouse gas by using anaerobic digestion of biomass waste, resulting biogas and sludge. Biogas can be used as an alternative source of energy and sludge may be used as a soil amendment and fertilizer in agriculture. It has been observed a reduction of 53-73% of CO2 emission after using biogas to produce electricity[5]. The sludge from the biogas station corresponds qualitatively to fertilize agricultural land and can lead to a corresponding reduction in CO2 equivalent to produce 902.4t of NH4NO3. The second case study was developed in order to establish the level of CO2 emission reduction by using the biomass with coal in the energy industry [8,9]. It is also observed a reduction of CO2 emissions correlated with the amount ofbiomass used for coincineration. Both case studies indicate a high reduction of greenhouse gas after using biomass for direct or indirect production of energy.