Kinetics of the steam gasification of a phenolic circuit board in the presence of carbonates

► The gasification was effective to produce clean hydrogen from plastic WEEE content. ► The reaction proceeded through an initial pyrolysis and latter gasification of char. ► Both the pyrolysis and the latter gasification were accelerated by the carbonate. ► Physical contact of steam, carbonate and char was important for the gasification. ► The gasification occurred mainly in outer layer of char infiltrated by the carbonate.