Biomass gasification is considered to be one of the sustainable solutions to the power crisis in India. In this context, which of the following statement is/are correct? 1. Coconut shells, groundnut shells and rice husk can be used in biomass gasification. 2. The combustible gases generated from biomass gasification consist of hydrogen and carbon dioxide only. 3. The combustible gases generated from biomass gasification can be used for direct heat generation but not in internal combustion engines. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Biomass gasification is a thermochemical process that converts organic materials into a combustible gas mixture. Statement 1 is correct as various agricultural residues such as coconut shells, groundnut shells, and rice husk are viable feedstocks for gasification [1]. Statement 2 is incorrect because the resulting 'producer gas' or 'syngas' consists of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), and methane (CH4) as combustible components, along with non-combustible gases like nitrogen (N2) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Statement 3 is incorrect because the gas produced is highly versatile; it can be used for direct thermal applications (heating) and, after proper cleaning and cooling, can effectively fuel internal combustion engines (both compression ignition and spark ignition) for power generation. Therefore, only the first statement regarding feedstock variety is accurate.

Sources

1. [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > v) Pyrolysis > p. 86