Correct Option (A):
Statement 1 is correct. Biomass gasification is a thermochemical process that converts organic materials into a combustible gas mixture. A wide range of agricultural residues, including coconut shells, groundnut shells, and rice husk, are suitable and commonly used as feedstock for biomass gasification due to their high carbon content and availability.
Incorrect Options:
Statement 2 is incorrect. The combustible gases generated from biomass gasification, often referred to as producer gas or syngas, primarily consist of hydrogen (H₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and methane (CH₄). Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a significant non-combustible component of the producer gas, along with nitrogen (N₂), especially when air is used as the gasifying agent. The statement incorrectly identifies CO₂ as a combustible gas and omits other major combustible components like CO and CH₄.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The combustible gases generated from biomass gasification are versatile and can be utilized for various applications. They are indeed suitable for direct heat generation in industrial furnaces, kilns, and boilers. Furthermore, after appropriate cleaning and conditioning to remove impurities like tar and particulates, these gases can be effectively used as fuel in internal combustion engines (e.g., gas engines, dual-fuel engines) for mechanical power or electricity generation. This makes biomass gasification a viable option for decentralized power generation.