Process to prepare a char product and a syngas mixture

A process to prepare a char product and a syngas mixture comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide from a solid biomass feed comprising the following steps:

• (i) subjecting the solid biomass feed to a pyrolysis reaction at a temperature of between 500 and 800° C. and at a solid residence time of between 10 and 60 minutes thereby obtaining a gaseous fraction comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and a mixture of gaseous organic compounds and a solid fraction comprising of char particles having a reduced atomic hydrogen over carbon ratio and a reduced oxygen over carbon ratio relative to the solid biomass feed, wherein the solid biomass feed are pellets of a solid torrefied biomass feed, and
• wherein step (i) is performed in an elongated furnace wherein the biomass is continuously transported from an inlet at one end of an elongated furnace to an outlet at the other end of the elongated furnace and wherein the required temperature is achieved by a combination of indirect heat exchange and a partial oxidation of part of the generated gaseous organic compounds,
• (ii) separating the char particles as the char product from the gaseous fraction thereby providing an isolated char product, and
• (iii) subjecting the gaseous fraction obtained in step (ii) to a continuously operated partial oxidation at a temperature between 1000 and 1600° C. to obtain a syngas mixture further comprising water and having an elevated temperature.