Albion\’s ABC\’s of Waste Management – G

G      GASIFICATION

Gasification is a thermal process that transforms carbon-based material such as Municipal Solid Waste or biomass into energy.  Gasification does not burn the material, but rather converts the waste materials into gas through a chemical reaction. Small amounts of air and oxygen are reacted in a gasifier with the carbon-based material, or “feedstock”, which breaks them down to produce a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

What is produced is a synthesis gas, or “syngas” which can then be converted into useful resources such as electricity. This conversion from waste into a resource such as electricity, fuel, chemicals or fertilizer means that the waste then becomes valuable and is not rendered useless in a landfill. Using waste as a feedstock for gasification can cut down disposal costs as well as space taken up by landfill. Feedstocks may be processed prior to the gasification as materials like metal and glass cannot be gasified.

Gasification is not to be confused with incineration which uses the waste as fuel and burns it to produce heat and carbon dioxide that also can also be used to make electricity. Gasification has several advantages over incineration as it is considerably cleaner as there is not enough oxygen in the gasification process to form toxic dioxins and furans. 

Further details can be found http://www.worldcoal.org/reducing-co2-emissions/gasification