Research Projects

Pine needles, dried leaves of pine trees, are a significant waste material in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand state. They form a thick blanket over forest floor, preventing natural growth and causing fires. However, these needles can be collected and converted into useful products. A preliminary study in our department focused on steam gasification of pine needles to produce syngas, which can be further enhanced using a suitable catalyst and parameters. This study aims to produce hydrogen-enriched syngas from waste material like pine needles. The study will be experimental, involving gasification using a bubbling fluidized bed gasifier, and economic analysis for larger capacity systems. Hydrogen can be a clean energy carrier, and biomass can become a valuable resource.