Dwi Cahyani, Mahmoud Sharara, Brian Jackson, Wenqiao Yuan
Increasing global demand for animal-based protein has created a critical environmental management challenge regarding manure accumulation in intensive livestock production. Gasification offers a sustainable solution by converting organic residues into renewable synthetic gas (syngas) and carbon-rich biochar. This study systematically evaluated the performance of three major types of animal waste—dairy manure, poultry litter, and swine manure—against a lignocellulosic control (wood veneer waste) in a top-lit updraft (TLUD) gasifier. Three airflow rates (10, 15, and 20 L min−1) were studied. The results indicated that increasing airflow significantly elevated the gasifier flame front temperatures, with poultry litter achieving the highest peak temperature (825.5 °C), followed by swine manure and dairy manure (753.7 and 727.0 °C, respectively) at 20 L min−1 airflow. While dairy manure exhibited the fastest linear burning rate (25.7 mm/min), poultry litter demonstrated the highest mass consumption rate (32.8 g/min). Feedstock chemistry drove distinct reaction pathways in syngas composition. Poultry litter emerged as the superior feedstock for H2 production, achieving a peak H2 concentration of 10.78% at 20 L min−1, which attributed to a synergistic combination of outstanding temperature, moisture content and catalytic alkali metals that promoted steam reforming and water–gas shift reactions. CO production was dominated by wood veneer (17.6%), which was driven by the dominance of elemental carbon and fixed solid (FS) content that favored partial oxidation and a Boudouard reaction. These findings suggest that while airflow regulates thermal kinetics, the specific energy profile of the produced syngas is fundamentally determined by the physiochemical properties of the biomass precursor. © 2026 by the authors.
Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, North Carolina State University, 3100 Faucette Dr, Raleigh, 27607, NC, United States; Biosystems Engineering Program Study, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Jl. Terusan Ryacudu, Way Hui, Jati Agung, Lampung Selatan, Lampung, 35365, Indonesia; Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, 130 Kilgore Hall Raleigh, Raleigh, 27695, NC, United States