The present study was conducted as part of a series of R&D of gasification and reforming technologies aimed at creating a new energy recovery technology from biomass waste. Special emphasis was placed on the production of hydrogen-rich synthesis gas from waste wood via gasification and sequential reforming technology using catalysts. Experiments were conducted employing three types of commercially available nickel-based steam reforming catalysts. Waste wood was supplied as the raw material and the reactor temperature was set at 1023 K (750°C). The results obtained were as follows: (1) Hydrogen generation can be significantly promoted by using nickel catalysts in the reforming process, as well as by supplying steam directly to the gasification process. (2) Nickel catalysts were also found to reduce the quantities of tar and toxic materials deleterious to gas utilization, such as hydrogen sulfide. (3) A nickel catalyst containing CaO was verified to exhibit superior catalytic performance, with the synthesis gas having a maximum hydrogen content of 57vol% and the lowest tar level converted from the wood material when the catalyst was utilized at 1023 K.
