The Chemical Looping with Oxygen Uncoupling (CLOU) process is a Chemical Looping Combution (CLC) technology that allows the combustion of sold fuels with inherent CO2 capture costs. The CLOU process is a new option, when the direct use of a solid fuel in a CLC technology is considered. The CLOU process takes advantage of the capability of some metal oxides to evolve gaseous oxygen at high temperature. The oxygen carrier particles for CLOU process are based on those metal oxides. The oxygen generated by the metal oxide reacts directly with the sold fuel, which is mixed with the oxygen-carrier in the fuel-reactor. The selection of suitable oxygen-carriers is a key factor for the CLOU technology development. The aim of this work was to produce and characterize oxygen-carrier materials based in CuO with high oxygen transfer capablity, reactivity and good fluidization properties. Several oxygen-carriers were prepared with different CuO contents, using different inert supports and using different preparation method (incipient wetness impregnation, mechanical mixing + extrusion, and mechanical mixing + pelletizing by pressure). The reaction rate for oxygen generation (decomposition) and regeneration were determined carrying out successive cycles in a TGA system. In this way it was determined the chemical suitability of the materials. Selected materials were tested by redox decomposition-regeneration cycles in a batch fluidized bed reactor working at different temperatures and reacting window of suitable operating conditions for the CLOU process using CuO oxygen-carriers was found. (C) Published by Elsevier Ltd.
