Thermochemical Evaluation of Banana Peel Biomass for Syngas Production: Thermal and Electrical Energy Production Potential

The global use of fossil fuels remains high, leading to significant greenhouse gas emissions. To mitigate this, renewable energy sources must be explored, with biomass being a promising option. Biomass is carbon-rich and has a strong thermoconversion potential. In Brazil, banana peel stands out as an abundant biomass source suitable for this process. This study investigates the gasification of banana peel to produce syngas, which is a key precursor for synthetic fuels. The biomass was first prepared and characterized by analyzing moisture content, bulk density, and calorific value and through elemental, bromatological, and immediate analyses. Gasification was then performed at 600, 700, 800, and 900 °C. The results showed a high carbon content, especially volatile carbon, confirming its thermoconversion potential. Syngas rich in hydrogen was produced, with its concentration increasing with the temperature. The highest calorific values were observed at 900 °C, along with greater thermal and electrical energy potential. However, values at 800 °C were similar, suggesting that it is an optimal temperature for the process due to efficiency and potentially lower energy input requirements. This highlights banana peel's viability as a feedstock for renewable energy through thermochemical conversion.