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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT i
TABLE OF CONTENTS ii
LIST OF TABLES viii
LIST OF FIGURES x
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xv
LIST OF APPENDICES xvii
STRESZCZENIE xviii
SUMMARY xx
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background 1
1.2 Problem Statement 5
1.2.1 The Global Energy Crisis and Sustainable Development 5
1.2.2 Continuous Increase on Energy Demands 7
1.2.3 Shortage of Fossil Fuels and Depletion of Natural Resources 8
1.2.4 Impact of Fossil Fuels Utilization to Climate Change 9
1.2.5 Extensive Deteriorated Areas and Land Degradation 11
1.2.6 Tar Formation in Current Thermal Gasification and Pyrolysis Technologies 11
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1.4 Research Significance 14
1.5 Scope of Research 18
1.6 Research Outline 19
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Introduction 20
2.1.1 Environmental Biotechnology: The Hope for Environmental Sustainability 21
2.2 Biomass Sources and Its Usability for Energy Production 23
2.3 Comprehensive Application of Laser Biotechnology 26
2.3.1 Wood/Plant Biomass Increment via Laser Biotechnology 27
2.3.2 Complementary Role of Laser Biotechnology in Environmental Engineering 30
2.3.2.1 Application of Laser Biostimulation in Environmental Management of Contaminated Areas 31
2.3.2.2 Contribution of Laser Biotechnology and Ecology to Primary Prevention and Sustainable Development 33
2.4 Features of the Different Generations of Biomass 33
2.5 Biomass Conversion Routes and Overview of Bio-energy Technologies 36
2.5.1 Pyrolysis and Gasification of Biomass 38
2.5.1.1 The Fast, Conventional, Slow and Intermediate Pyrolysis 40
2.5.1.2 Comparison of Different Pyrolysis and Gasification Techniques 44
2.5.1.3 Pyrolysis and Gasification Products: Influence of Operating Parameters 46 2.5.1.4 Mechanism of Catalytic Pyrolysis and Gasification of Biomass 47
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2.5.1.6 Future Directions of Biomass Gasification 50
2.6 Catalytic and Inhibition Mechanisms During Biomass Char Gasification by CO2 and H2O 53
2.6.1 Biomass Char Structure and Pyrolysis Conditions 55
2.6.2 Catalytic Mechanisms 57
2.6.3 Inhibition Mechanisms 61
2.6.4 Loss of Catalyst 63
2.7 Biomass Gasification/Pyrolysis with Commercial Nickel Based Catalyst 65
2.7.1 Commercial Catalysts as Primary Catalyst 66
2.7.2 Commercial Nickel Catalyst as Secondary Catalyst 68
2.7.2.1 Synthesis Gas Upgrading 69
2.7.2.2 Bio-oil Steam Reforming 71
2.8 Recent Progressions in Nickel Based Catalyst for Biomass Gasification 73
2.8.1 Effect of Support on Nickel Based Catalysts 74
2.8.2 Promoted Nickel Based Catalysts 76
2.8.3 Nickel Nanoparticle Catalyst 81
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 3.1 Introduction 83
3.2 Method of Application of Laser Biotechnology for Biomass Production 83
3.3 Method of Plant Biomass Characterization 84
3.3.1 Plant Biomass Sampling 84
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3.4.1Moisture Content 87
3.4.2 Volatile Matter Content 89
3.4.3 Ash and Fixed Carbon Content 90
3.4.4 Calorific Value 90
3.5 Ultimate Analysis of Plant Biomass Sample 93
3.6 Comparative Plant Biomass Analysis via JSM-5410 Scanning Microscope and X-Ray Fluorescene (XRF) Spectrometry 95
3.7 Sampling of Catalysts Ni/Al2O3- SiO2 and Ni/ Al2O3-SiO2 with K2O as Promoter 98
3.8 Characterization of Catalysts Ni/Al2O3- SiO2 and Ni/Al2O3- SiO2 with K2O Promoter 98
3.8.1 X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analysis of Catalysts 99
3.8.2 X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Surface Analysis of Catalysts 100
3.9 Method of Thermo-gravimetric Analysis of Plant Biomass 103
3.9.1 Kinetic Parameters Estimation 104
3.9.1.2 Development of Dynamic Method 104
3.9.1.2.1 Kinetic Model 104
3.9.1.2.2 Determination of Factor A0 106
3.9.1.3 Differential Methods 107
3.9.1.3.1 Murray and White, and Senum and Yang Methods 107
3.9.1.4 Methodology for Calculating Formation Rate and Carbon Conversion Degree 108
3.10 Gasification Apparatus and Procedure 109
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3.11.1 Operational Method of Gas Chromatography 114
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 4.1 Introduction 118
4.2 Results of Proximate and Ultimate Analysis of Biomass Sample 119
4.3 Comparative Results of Trace Elemental Analysis via JSM-5410 Scanning Microscope and X-Ray Fluorescene (XRF) Spectrometry 128
4.4 Results of X-ray Patterns and Surface Area Analysis of Catalysts Ni/Al2O3- SiO2 and Ni/ Al2O3-SiO2 with K2O as Promoter 158
4.5 Result of X-Ray Diffraction of Catalysts Ni/Al2O3- SiO2 and Ni/ Al2O3-SiO2 with K2O as Promoter 169
4.6 Results from Thermo-gravimetric Analysis of Plant Biomass 171
4.6.1 Determination of the Activation Energy and the Pre-exponential Factor 178
4.7 Catalytic and Non-catalytic Activity 183
4.7.1 Product Yields from the Gasification of Plant Biomass 183
4.7.2 Overall Material Balance Comparison between the Groups of Rose Multiflora and Miscanthus Giganteus Biomasses 204
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1 Conclusion 208
5.2 Recommendation 211
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APPENDIX A: Specifications of JSM-5410 Scanning Microscope 236
APPENDIX B: Specifications of Gas Chromatography (GC) and Infrared Gas Analyzer 240
APPENDIX C: Technical Specifications of X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectrometry 242 APPENDIX D: Technical Specifications of X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) 243
APPENDIX E: Photo Galleries of Research Project 244
APPENDIX F: List of Publications 247
APPENDIX G: List of Awards and Complementary Achievements 248
