Enhancement of C–C and C–H bond cleavage and hydrogen yield performance from waste food process by using ruthenium/alumina catalyst via supercritical water gasification process

Current research is enriching carbon-carbon (C–C) and carbon-hydrogen (C–H) bonds in organic molecules and hydrogen from food wastes, which is blended with 30 % of algae help boost the reaction via supercritical water gasification (SCWG) process and its performance investigated without catalyst and with 1-3 wt% of ruthenium/alumina (Ru/Al₂O₃) catalyst underwater to biomass ratios of 5:1, which is involved at 25 MPa pressure with 700 °C gasification temperature for 60 min residence time. The influences of catalyst action on molar fraction percentage, syngas yield, carbon gasification efficiency, hydrogen selectivity, and carbon dioxide selectivity are studied in the present research. Based on the investigational results, the 5:1 ratios of water to biomass (70 % food waste/30 % algae booster) processed via SCWG process featured with Ru/Al₂O₃ catalyst showed the optimum performances and 3 wt% of Ru/Al₂O₃ catalyst recorded maximum hydrogen (H₂) fraction of 74.3 %, reduced carbon dioxide (CO₂) fraction of 19.8 %, enhanced H₂ yield of 72.3 mol/kg, improved carbon gasification efficiency of 94.6 %, higher H₂ selectivity of 90.2 % and decreased CO₂ selectivity of 62.5 %. Moreover, combinations of food waste and 30 % of algae processed with the SCWG process, featuring a Ru/Al₂O₃ catalyst, provide maximum C–C and C–H bonds, resulting in a superior hydrogen yield.