Enhanced reforming of mixed biomass tar model compounds using a hybrid gliding arc plasma catalytic process

Plasma-catalytic steam reforming of mixed tar model compounds (toluene and naphthalene) from biomass gasification has been carried out in a gliding arc discharge (GAD) plasma reactor. The influence of three catalysts (15Ni, 7.5Ni7.5Co and 15Co) on the performance of the plasma reforming of toluene and naphthalene has been evaluated including the conversion, the energy efficiency, the yield/selectivity of gaseous products and the formation of by-products. A plasma-catalysis synergy was generated when introducing the catalysts to the plasma tar reforming process. The highest toluene conversion of 95.7% and naphthalene conversion of 83.4% were achieved when the 7.5Ni7.5Co catalyst was integrated with the GAD plasma at a total tar concentration of 16.0 g/Nm(3) and a discharge power of 75 W. The corresponding energy efficiency for the conversion of toluene and naphthalene was 38.0 g/kWh and 2.3 g/kWh, respectively, giving the highest total tar conversion of 95.1% and overall energy efficiency of 40.3 g/kWh. The coupling of GAD with the 7.5Ni7.5Co catalyst also showed the highest yield of H-2 (42.3%) and CO (37.3%) and the highest CO selectivity of 40.1%. In addition, the combination of the GAD plasma with 7.5Ni7.5Co reduced the carbon deposition on the catalyst surfaces and the formation of by-products in the plasma-catalytic tar reforming process. The enhanced reducibility and NiCo alloy formation of the 7.5Ni7.5Co catalyst contribute to the enhanced conversion of mixed tar compounds and the formation of the plasma-catalysis synergy in the hybrid plasma-catalytic tar reforming process.