Abstract
Conventional methods of biomass gasification to hydrogen and synthesis gas are carried out at high temperature. The purpose of this study is to develop a novel catalytic process for biomass gasification at low temperature (773–873 K) with high energy efficiency. A cellulose was used as the model compound of biomass, and the performance of our catalysts was compared with those of dolomite and non -catalyst in batch and continuous-feeding fluidized bed reactor. In reaction tests with various catalysts, Rh/CeO2 exhibited higher performance than other catalysts, but its deactivation was also observed during the reaction, caused by the sintering of the CeO2 support. A commercial steam-reforming catalyst also showed high activity, but its deactivation due to carbon deposition was observed. We also prepared Rh/CeO2/SiO2, which gave higher C-conversion to gas and was more stable than Rh/CeO2. In comparison with conventional methods (dolomite, non-catalyst, Ni catalyst), it was found that the gasification using Rh/CeO2/SiO2 catalyst can give a higher yield of synthesis gas at much lower temperature and with higher stability.
