Catalytic Steam Reforming of Biomass Tar Model Compounds with Low Cost Catalysts: Effect of Operation Conditions

Catalytic steam reforming of tar model compounds (toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, cumene, quinoline, naphthalene and phenol) was carried out over different catalysts and in a fixed bed reactor. Tried catalysts were nickel/molybdenum over alumina, Fe supported on activated carbon, natural dolomite and a char obtained from pyrolysis of plastics. The effects of temperature, reaction time, space velocity and water:tar molar ratio on conversion, H 2 :CO ratio and catalyst deactivation were studied. The carbonaceous deposits were quantified by TPO and the results were related to activity and deactivation. Increasing the temperature favors the performance of the nickel-molybdenum catalyst, which shows 100% conversion up to 240 min time-on-stream, though the H 2 :CO ratio is the lowest, 2. At 873 K the char has a similar activity as the other catalysts, with about 50% conversion. The H 2 :CO ratio is however improved to 4. On a cost and environmental basis this catalyst seems the best option. It is a residue of other process (low cost), it has good activity and produces a good quality gas.