Highly Efficient Production of Synthesis Gas by Catalytic Gasification of Biomass at Low Reaction Temperature

摘要

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 proceess 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-catalytic in batch-and continuous-feeding fluidized bed reactor. In reaction tests with various catalysts, Rh/CeO_2 exhibited higher performance than other catalysts, but its deactivation was also observed during the reaction, caused by the sintering of the CeO_2 support. A commercial steam-reforming catalyst also showed high activity, but its deactivatin due to carbon deposition was observed. We also prepared Rh/CeO_2/SiO_2, which gave higher C-conversion to gas and was more stable than Rh/CeO_2. In comparison with conventional methods (dolomite, non-catalyst, Ni catalyst), it was found that the gasificiation using Rh/CeO_2/SiO_2 catalyst can give a higher yield of syntheiss gas at much lower temperature and with higher stability.