Theoretical Study of Sodium Effect on the Gasification of Carbonaceous Materials with Carbon Dioxide

The effect of sodium on the thermodynamics and kinetics of carbon gasification with carbon dioxide was studied by using quantum chemistry methods. Specifically, in the density functional context, two exchange-correlation functionals were used: B3LYP and M06. Some results Obtained by these, exchange-correlation functionals were contrasted with those obtained by the CCSD(T) method. It was found that density functional theory gives similar conclusions with respect to the coupled-cluster method. As one important conclusion we can mention that the thermodynamics of carbon monoxide desorption is not favored by the sodium presence. However, the presence of this metal induces: (a) an easier formation Of one semiquinone group; (b) the dissociation of carbon dioxide, and (c) an increment on the CO desorption-rate for one of the proposed pathways.