Tailored syngas production from Bio-Oil with CO2 Valorization: A thermodynamic approach of coupled steam and dry reforming units

Abstract

This study explores a novel thermodynamic approach for syngas production from bio-oil by coupling steam reforming (SR) and dry reforming (DR) units. The proposed strategy minimizes CO₂ emissions compared to conventional SR by utilizing CO₂ as a reactant, enhancing process sustainability while enabling the production of syngas with customizable H₂/CO ratios. Thermodynamic calculations conducted with AVEVA Pro/II software demonstrate that the coupled (SR+DR) configuration allows independent optimization of SR and DR unit conditions, including temperature and bio-oil feed distribution. This flexibility facilitates tailored syngas compositions for industrial applications such as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, methanation, methanol production, and ammonia synthesis. For a target H₂/CO ratio of 2, the optimal (1 SR+1 DR) configuration achieved syngas yields of 89–95 % and CO₂ conversion in the DR unit of 24–31 %. For a target H₂/CO ratio of 3, the (1.5 SR+0.5 DR) configuration demonstrated higher syngas yields (92–94 %), although at the expense of lower CO₂ conversion (14–17 %). Moreover, compared to conventional SR, the coupled SR+DR strategy achieves reductions in CO₂ emissions up to 66 % for syngas with an H₂/CO ratio of 2 and 38 % for an H₂/CO ratio of 3. The results position the coupled (SR+DR) strategy as a sustainable and energy-efficient alternative for bio-oil valorization, paving the way for carbon–neutral syngas production and its potential industrial implementation.