Process development and experimental analysis of MgO-supported calcium ferrite in biomass-based chemical looping hydrogen production

The need for decarbonization has driven the development of carbon-neutral energy conversion technologies. This study presents a Calcium Ferrite-assisted Chemical Looping Biomass-to-Hydrogen (CF-CL-BTH) process that achieves a hydrogen yield of 0.1574 kg H 2 per kg of biomass. The system employs a dual-reactor moving bed design and an MgO-supported dicalcium ferrite (Ca₂Fe₂O₅) oxygen carrier, where MgO enhances thermal stability by creating a porous, anti-sintering structure that promotes high dispersion of the active material. Experimental validation identified 1000 °C as the optimal reducer temperature, maximizing syngas production and enabling 56.32% solids conversion. This configuration enables efficient hydrogen generation through selective water-gas shift and steam reforming reactions within the dual-reactor system. The dual-generation mechanism delivers hydrogen yields 60% higher than conventional Fe-Ti based chemical looping and 28% higher than state-of-the-art indirect gasification processes. The process achieves a Cold Gas Efficiency (CGE) of 111.25% and an Effective Thermal Efficiency (ETE) of 76.93%, representing a 19% improvement over the indirect gasification benchmark. Post-cycling characterization using XRD and SEM confirmed complete regeneration and structural stability of the oxygen carrier, highlighting the robustness and long-term viability of the CF-CL-BTH process. These results underscore its potential as a high-efficiency, carbon-neutral pathway for sustainable hydrogen production. • The CF-CL-BTH process generates an H 2 yield of 0.1574 kg/kg of biomass, 60% and 28% higher than the BTS and IG processes, respectively. • The CF-CL-BTH process exhibits the CGE by 24 and 42 percentage points higher than the BTS and IG processes, respectively. • Use of the simulated moving bed strategy to experimentally verify the results. • Integration of experimental results into process simulations for ETE and CGE. • C2F OC demonstrates superior properties such as improved kinetics, high syngas selectivity, and complete regeneration in steam.