Fuel blending effects on the co-gasification of coal and biomass – A review

•Co-utilization of coal and biomass reduces fossil-based CO2, NOx and SOx production.•Fuel blending effects on gas composition, gas yield, carbon conversion and calorific value.•Higher biomass ratio gives lower H2 but produces higher CO, CO2, CH4 and hydrocarbons.•Higher biomass ratio gives lower char, H2S and NH3 but produces higher yield of tar.

This review deals mainly with co-gasification studies of different kinds of coal and biomass and the effect of biomass and coal contents in the fuel blends. The percentage of biomass or coal in co-gasification is one of the most important parameters that affect the gasification process. In this paper, the effect of gasifying various kinds of biomass, coal and their blends on the production of H2, CO2, CO, CH4 and other hydrocarbons is reviewed. In addition, other characteristics of the co-gasification process such as carbon conversion, gas yield, calorific value, cold gas efficiency, tar, H2S and NH3 contents, which are influenced by changing the kinds and percentages of fuel in the mixture of coal and biomass is elaborated upon.