Theoretical determination of hydrogen production from rice husks in the La Libertad región of Peru

Abstract

Background: The study addresses the growing global energy demand and the need to transition to cleaner sources, highlighting H₂ as a key alternative. In Peru, CA, an underutilized agricultural residue is proposed as a source of bioenergy to produce H₂ through gasification. Objective: The main objective of the study is to determine the amount of H2 that can be produced from the gasification of CA in the region of La Libertad, Peru, using a thermodynamic equilibrium model and is related to the problem of growing energy demand in Peru and the need to use cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, taking advantage of an underutilized agricultural resource, CA, to generate H₂ as a renewable energy alternative. Methods: The study used a stoichiometric thermodynamic equilibrium model to simulate the gasification of CA from the La Libertad-Peru region. The sample was the CA produced in 2023, and data collection focused on its chemical composition. The solution of the nonlinear system was performed with Octave software and calculated the H₂ concentration in the syngas.  Results: The study found that CA has great potential to produce H₂ by gasification, with an estimated 3,037 tons of H₂ from 67,218 tons of husk. The syngas generated contained 35.41% H2, and the production could generate approximately 364,546 GJ of energy. In addition, the use of a thermodynamic model optimized the gasification parameters, improving H₂ production and reducing experimental costs. Conclusions: The study concludes that AC is a viable source for producing H₂ by gasification. The thermodynamic model optimized the process, improving efficiency and reducing costs. The practical implications suggest that the valorization of CA can contribute to diversifying Peru's energy matrix. For future research, it is recommended to study industrial scale-up and evaluate the economic and environmental impact in other regions.