Microwave-induced cracking and reforming of benzene on activated carbon

• Published in: Chemical engineering and processing Vol. 135; pp. 148 - 155
• Main Authors: Chun, Young Nam, Song, Hee Gaen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.01.2019
• Subjects: Carbon receptor; Microwave heating; Model tar benzene; Tar cracking; Tar reforming; Tar cracking; Tar reforming; Carbon receptor; Model tar benzene; Microwave heating
• ISSN: 0255-2701; 1873-3204
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cep.2018.11.021

[Display omitted] •A novel tar reduction technology has been proposed as a clean unit for pyrolysis/gasification by-product.•The produced gas can be used as a high quality fuel instead of a fossil fuels.•Tar conversion performance was achieved to present ability for the microwave heating convertor. This study was conducted to convert tar generated during biomass pyrolysis/gasification to fuel gas through microwave process. Benzene was selected as a model tar, and the benzene reduction and produced-gas conversion characteristics were investigated for benzene cracking and CO2/steam reforming. The benzene conversion was the highest value of 99% when benzene cracking was performed, 98.5% when CO2 was supplied and 94% when steam was supplied. The produced-gas heating value was highest at 15 MJ/m3 for cracking, lowest at 4 MJ/m3 when CO2 was supplied, and 8.7 MJ/m3 when steam was supplied. In the case of CO2 reforming, the benzene conversion of the catalyst carbon receptor slightly increased for both the nickel and iron catalysts. The H2/CO ratio decreased, but the heating value increased. In the case of steam reforming, the benzene conversion slightly decreased for both catalysts, but the H2/CO ratio and the heating value increased.