Renewable hydrogen energy from polymeric waste: an aspen plus model of date palm seeds and mixed synthetic materials co-gasification

This study investigates the co-gasification of biomass derived from date palm seeds and mixed waste plastics, utilizing Aspen Plus simulation to analyze syngas generation under various operational conditions. The co-gasification process, which combines agricultural by-products with plastic waste, offers a viable strategy for converting waste materials into valuable syngas, thereby promoting sustainable energy production and addressing environmental waste issues. A model was developed in Aspen Plus that incorporates reaction kinetics and thermodynamic data specific to the characteristics of date palm biomass in conjunction with mixed waste plastics. Critical parameters, including the ratio of plastic to biomass, steam to biomass ratio, and air-steam ratio were systematically varied to assess their impact on the composition of syngas, particularly the levels of H₂, CO, CH₄, and CO₂, as well as the resultant calorific value. The results demonstrate that an increase in the plastic content leads to higher concentrations of H₂ and CO, while elevated steam levels promote the production of H₂ and CO₂ through the water-gas shift reaction. Furthermore, the air-to-steam ratio significantly influences the quality of syngas, affecting CO, CH₄, and overall energy efficiency. This research identifies optimal conditions for co-gasification that maximize both the yield and quality of syngas, providing a basis for future investigations focused on the integration of biomass and plastic waste into sustainable energy systems.