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

## TL;DR

This paper explores banana peel biomass for syngas production, showing its potential for renewable thermal and electrical energy.

## Contribution

The study evaluates banana peel as a novel biomass feedstock for thermochemical energy production in Brazil.

## Key findings

- Banana peel has high volatile carbon content, suitable for thermoconversion.
- Syngas rich in hydrogen is produced, with higher yields at higher temperatures.
- Optimal gasification temperature is around 800°C for efficiency and energy input.

## Abstract

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.