Abstract

The presented work was to estimate an efficiency of a microwave plasma as a potential method of a sewage sludge derived producer gas cleaning. Obtained results showed a high effectiveness of the microwave plasma in conditioning of the producer gas. Its application resulted in a significant rise of CO and H2 in the gas. What’s more, the increase in CO concentration was not only a result of hydrocarbons conversion, but also CO2 reduction. The decomposition efficiency of hydrocarbons depended on the species type. In case of C1-C2 the conversion was about 60–70%. Slightly higher decomposition was achieved for benzene. The decomposition rate of compounds heavier than C2 and lighter than benzene exceeded 90%. A similar conversion was achieved in case of species heavier than benzene. This includes toluene, which concentration, depending on the run, decreased from about 4 g/Nm3 to levels even lower than 10 mg/Nm3. These results seem crucial from the tar conversion point of view.