Gasification of sago dreg waste in a top-lit updraft fixed bed gasifier: Syngas composition and its effect with additional Al2O3 as catalyst

• Sago waste as renewable energy is converted into syngas through TULD gasification. • Sago waste pellets with Al 2 O 3 catalyst increase syngas (H 2 , CO, CH 4 ) for alternative energy. • Al 2 O 3 catalyst in sago waste increases the production of H 2 (31.65%), CO (4.33%), and CH 4 (26.45%). • Sago waste with Al 2 O 3 catalyst has high potential as an alternative fuel for internal combustion engines. Sago-based foods have become a staple food in eastern Indonesia. Sago waste, as a by-product, has the potential to be used as a renewable energy fuel. This research aims to use sago dregs waste as an energy source by converting it into renewable energy using Top Lit Updraft (TULD) fixed bed gasification. Al 2 O 3 , a potential solid waste derived from coal fly ash, is also being investigated for use in sago dreg pellets.The two various Al 2 O 3 contents in sago dreg pellets that will be examined with 5 % Al 2 O 3 and 10 % Al 2 O 3 . Operational parameters employed in the gasification process involving the TULD reactor, such as gasification temperature, air flow rate, air-to-fuel ratio (AFR), and syngas assessment. According to the results, adding Al 2 O 3 as a catalyst to sago dreg pellets can improve syngas production (H 2 , CO, and CH 4 ). The most significant alteration is that the average hydrogen gas (H 2 ) content has increased, with the greatest being in 5 % Al 2 O 3 with 31.65 %, and 10 % Al 2 O 3 with 29.94 %. Meanwhile, the CO and CH 4 gas content was found to be highest at 10 % Al 2 O 3 , with each experiencing an increase in average (CO 4.33 % and CH 4 26.45 %) as compared to sago dregs pellets without Al 2 O 3 . Finally, sago dregs pellets with an Al 2 O 3 catalyst have a high potential as an alternative energy fuel for internal combustion engines with H 2 /CO of 1.65 and 1.51 respectively, for 5 % Al 2 O 3 and 10 % Al 2 O 3 , with low tar content.