A promising new on-line method of tar quantification by mass spectrometry during steam gasification of biomass

Abstract This paper presents an on-line method of measuring at mm 3  m −3 level some organic compounds such as BTX (Benzene, Toluene, Xylene) and PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon) which are called “tar” for biomass gasification applications. This method is based on the ion molecule reaction (IMR) mass spectrometer (MS) principle. Due to the low energy of ionization of Hg, Xe or Kr almost no overlapping spectra can damage the interpretation of the detected results. IMR-MS results of concentrated (above cm 3  m −3 ) and trace (below cm 3  m −3 ) tars are presented after a bubbling fluidized bed and a tar cracker respectively. Results are compared with other measurement methods such as microgas chromatography for benzene and toluene or Tar Protocol or Solid Phase Adsorption technique both methods for BTX and PAH giving good confidence to the results.