gasified

Gasified is the state of a material that has been converted into a gas, typically through a gasification process. Gasification is a thermo-chemical conversion that changes carbon-containing solids or liquids into a combustible gas mixture called synthesis gas, or syngas, consisting mainly of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, with smaller amounts of carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases.

Gasification operates at high temperature and under oxidizing or steam-enriched conditions with limited air supply. Feedstocks include coal, biomass, municipal solid waste, and certain heavy hydrocarbons. Gasifiers come in several designs, including fixed-bed, fluidized-bed, and entrained-flow, each with different gas compositions and efficiencies.

Gasified products, primarily syngas, can be burned for electricity and heat, used as a chemical feedstock for liquid fuels and plastics, or converted to hydrogen or synthetic fuels through catalytic processes such as Fischer–Tropsch synthesis or methanol production. Gasification can be paired with carbon capture and storage to reduce net CO2 emissions relative to conventional combustion, though emissions depend on feedstock and system design.

Challenges include higher capital costs, tar and particulate formation, catalyst fouling, and the need for extensive gas cleaning. Feedstock variability and gas-cleanup requirements can affect reliability and economics. Gasification remains most developed for coal and biomass, with ongoing research to expand feedstocks and improve efficiency.

A historical use of gasification was in town gas production for lighting and heating in the 19th and early 20th centuries; modern applications emphasize cleaner energy, chemical production, and integrated energy systems.