Pruning of biomass from plant-assisted bioremediation (PABR). Use in a gasification plant and monitoring of syngas quality

Current contaminated soil remediation techniques are either very expensive or extremely difficult. From this point of view, Plant-Assisted BioRemediation (PABR), a technique based on the development of dedicated fast-growing crops (such as poplar), which allows contaminants to be extracted from the soil, assumes great value. The plants in the growth phase are able to extract the contaminants of the soil and to reclaim it, after a certain period of time, in a completely natural and non-invasive way. However, these biomasses and their prunings are considered contaminated products. In a world increasingly aimed at developing a circular economy, it is important to find an effective disposal technique with a low environmental impact. In this study, poplar prunings from PABR and traditional poplar were used and compared in a gasification plant. The metal content in the produced syngas and the ash was compared. It has been observed that most of the heavy metals present accumulate in the ashes which allows to enormously reduce the volume of contaminated material through an energy conversion process.