Catalytic reforming of tar during gasification. Part I. Steam reforming of biomass tar using ilmenite as a catalyst

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) Vol. 90; no. 5; pp. 1847 - 1854
• Main Authors: Min, Zhenhua, Asadullah, Mohammad, Yimsiri, Piyachat, Zhang, Shu, Wu, Hongwei, Li, Chun-Zhu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Addition polymerization; Applied sciences; Aromatic ring systems; Biomass; Catalysts; Coke; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Gasification; Ilmenite; Natural energy; Polymerization; Pyrolysis; Reforming; Steam reforming; Tar reforming; Tar reforming; Steam reforming; Ilmenite; Aromatic ring systems; Pyrolysis; Deactivation; Tar; Coke; Carbon dioxide; Iron; Catalytic reforming; Biomass; Water vapor; Volatiles; Gasification; Catalyst activity; Catalyst
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2010.12.039

Ilmenite, a natural iron-containing mineral, has been investigated as an inexpensive catalyst for the steam reforming of volatiles (tar) from the pyrolysis of mallee woody biomass. The results indicate that ilmenite has good activity for the steam reforming of tar into gases due to its highly dispersed iron-containing species. The supply of external steam, in addition to the H 2O and CO 2 produced during the pyrolysis of biomass, plays an important role in minimising the formation of coke on the catalyst surface and thus the catalyst activity. The catalyst deactivation due to coke formation has more adverse effects on the reforming of larger aromatic ring system with steam than that of smaller ones. In addition, the supply of additional oxygen at low concentration changed the outcomes of tar reforming mainly because oxygen activated the smaller aromatic ring systems and polymerised them into larger aromatic ring systems in the gas phase.