Modeling of the catalytic effects of potassium and calcium on spruce wood gasification in CO₂

Using previously reported thermogravimetric analysis measurements, the effects of calcium and potassium on the char gasification rate of spruce wood were modeled. Spruce wood was leached of inorganic ash elements and doped with measured amounts of potassium and calcium. The wood was gasified in an isothermal thermogravimetric analysis device in CO₂ where the devolatilization of the wood, char formation and char gasification all occurred inside the preheated reactor. A new method for separating the effects of devolatilization and char gasification is presented. Kinetic models were evaluated for their ability to describe the observed catalytic effects of potassium and calcium on the gasification rate. Two modified versions of the random pore model were able to accurately describe the measured conversion rates and the parameters of the kinetic models were found to be dependent on the calcium and potassium concentrations. Empirical correlations were developed to predict the char conversion rate from only the potassium and calcium concentration of the sample.