Biomass is increasingly gaining international attention as a renewable energy source. During woody biomass gasification, tar that is formed with synthesis gas causes corrosion and plugging problems in the devices of the gas purification process, heat exchangers, engines, and turbines. Moreover, these problems decrease the durability and gasification efficiency. In the present study, catalytic steam reforming of toluene, which is a major component of biomass tar, was studied using several metal catalysts at various temperatures, steam/tar ratio, space velocity, kind of metal, and metal loading content. Nickel, ruthenium, and platinum-based catalysts were tested for steam reforming of tar. At experimental temperatures of 400-800 oC and toluene concentration of 30-100 g/Nm3, reforming characteristics such as the conversion of toluene and the composition of produced gases were investigated. Generally, conversion of toluene and H2 content in a product gas increased with temperature. Ni based catalysts showed the best performance on steam reforming of toluene at low temperatures of 400-500 oC. However, rapid carbon deposition and deactivation of catalyst was detected. Toluene conversion was varied in accordance with Ni loading ratio. Ru based catalyst showed the highest toluene conversion at the temperatures of 600-800 oC, and higher stability and coking resistance than Pt and Ni based catalysts.

Catalytic steam reforming of model biomass tar over various metal catalysts

248th National Meeting (2014)

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