Tar scrubber for energy recovery from gasification operations

An apparatus comprising:

• a gasifier, the gasifier being an updraft gasifier that is physically adapted to generate a first gas from a biomass, wherein the first gas comprises syngas and tars;
• a first reactor comprising a scrubber that is operative for scrubbing the first gas with a first liquid comprising a first petrochemical such that absorption of tars in the first liquid gives rise to a second liquid comprising a second petrochemical;
• and
• an engine, wherein the engine is an internal combustion engine that is physically adapted for operation with syngas, the first petrochemical, and the second petrochemical, and wherein the engine is fluidically coupled with the first reactor to enable receipt of the second gas, the first liquid, and the second liquid.

A method comprising:

• providing a first gas that includes syngas and a first concentration of tars;
• mixing the first gas with a first liquid, wherein the first liquid absorbs tars from the first gas to provide a second gas having a second concentration of tars that is less than the first concentration of tars;
• converting the absorbed tars into a first liquid fuel;
• and
• providing the second gas and the first liquid fuel to an engine that is operable with syngas and the first liquid fuel.