Syngas quality improvement in corncob updraft gasification using CaO/activated carbon palm fiber catalyst

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2026.352281

Keywords:

gasification, updraft, corncob, syngas, CaO, activated carbon

Abstract

The object of the study is updraft fixed-bed gasification process of corncob biomass with dual catalytic system calcium oxide (CaO) and palm-fiber-derived activated carbon (AC-PF). This study addresses the low heating value of corn cob syngas and the high cost of upgrading catalysts. This study using dual catalyst system characterization along with both equivalence ratio (0.2, 0.25, 0.3, and 0.35), catalyst loading (4%, 6%, 8% and 10%) and finally CaO/AC–PF mass ratio (0:1, 1:0, 1:1, 2:1), in addition to this the final products obtained were analyzed for dual catalyst systems further through Scanning Electron Microscope, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller. These results indicate that by increasing the ER, H2 and CH4 fractions increase, whereas CO2 decreases, and the lower heating value of syngas increases, however CO reaches an optimum at ER = 0.3. Higher catalyst loading tends to decrease H2 and CH4 but increase CO, which potentially lowers the heating value at high loadings. Characterization of the catalyst shows that AC-PF has a porous structure and greater gas-solid contact with enhanced secondary reactions while addition of CaO creates a composite with surface species associated with CO2 sorption. Low Heating Value of syngas rises at high ER while decreases with the increase in catalyst loadings due to the minimal contribution of CH4. Our obtained results feature the demonstrated functional synergetic mechanism between porous AC–PF and CaO-based CO2 sorption, allowing simultaneous catalytic upgrading and CO2 capture in one cheap dual catalyst system. Such empirical observations would provide an appropriate foundation for future potential designs and operation of small-scale biomass gasification units, specifically updraft reactors to convert corn cob waste at the ER and catalyst loadings investigated in this study

Author Biographies

Purbo Suwandono, Widya Gama University

Master

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Widya Wijayanti, Brawijaya University

PhD

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Nova Risdiyanto Ismail, Widya Gama University

PhD

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Dzulfikar Johan Akbar, Brawijaya University

Master Student

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Muhammad Reza, Widya Gama University

Bachelor Student

Department of Mechanical Engineering

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Syngas quality improvement in corncob updraft gasification using CaO/activated carbon palm fiber catalyst

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Published

2026-04-30

How to Cite

Suwandono, P., Wijayanti, W., Ismail, N. R., Akbar, D. J., & Reza, M. (2026). Syngas quality improvement in corncob updraft gasification using CaO/activated carbon palm fiber catalyst. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 2(6 (140), 36–50. https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2026.352281

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 6 (140) (2026): Technology organic and inorganic substances

Section

Technology organic and inorganic substances

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Copyright (c) 2026 Purbo Suwandono, Widya Wijayanti, Nova Risdiyanto Ismail, Dzulfikar Johan Akbar, Muhammad Reza

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