Abstract:
Biomass, as an abundant renewable and carbon-neutral energy source, holds significant potential in the field of thermochemical hydrogen production. However, conventional steam gasification processes commonly suffer from low hydrogen yield, substantial CO
2 emissions, and challenges in controlling nitrogen and sulfur pollutants. The sorption-enhanced steam gasification of biomass using Calcium-based materials can improve hydrogen concentration and yield, with in-situ CO
2 capture by Calcium-based materials. To enhance biomass gasification for hydrogen production and elucidate nitrogen-sulfur transformation characteristics during this process, t high-sulfur marine biomass (Sargassum) was utilized as feedstock. Based on the Aspen us simulation platform, a thermodynamic model coupling CaO carbonation-calcination cycles was developed to investigate the role of CaO absorbent in CO
2 capture during gasification and its regulation of steam reforming reaction equilibrium. Systematic analysis was conducted on the effects of reaction temperature, mass ratio of steam to biomass (
m(S)∶
m(B)), and calcium-to-carbon molar ratio (
n(Ca)∶
n(C)) on gas product composition, carbon conversion rate, syngas calorific value, and nitrogen-sulfur conversion characteristics. Results indicate that through parameter optimization, optimal conditions of gasification temperature (800-850 ℃), mass ratio of steam to biomass (
m(S)∶
m(B)) (0.6−0.8), and calcium-to-carbon molar ratio (
n(Ca)∶
n(C)) (1.5−2.0), a molar ratio of H
2/CO exceeding 3.5 can be achieved, achieve a carbon conversion rate exceeding 94% and a low-heat-value syngas of 11.8−12.1 MJ/m
3. with a low calorific value of 11.8−12.1 MJ/m
3. Simultaneously, calcium-based materials effectively regulate nitrogen and sulfur migration pathways through dual mechanisms of chemical adsorption and catalytic conversion, keeping total NH
3 and HCN below 35×10
−5, achieving N
2 selectivity exceeding 85%, and H
2S removal rates surpassing 96%. Sulfur is primarily solidified as CaS, significantly reducing pollutant emissions. This research provides a theoretical foundation and process optimization pathway for the industrial application of hydrogen production via gasification of high-nitrogen, high-sulfur marine biomass, advancing the development of low-carbon hydrogen production and efficient carbon capture technologies.