Catalytic steam reforming of cellulose-derived compounds using a char-supported iron catalyst

This study aims to understand the mechanism for the removal of tar in the gasification of biomass with a charsupported iron catalyst. The pyrolysis of a pure cellulose sample and the following steam reforming of the pyrolysis products have been performed at temperatures from 500 to 850 degrees C. Our results indicate that tars are hard to be reformed without a catalyst. At low temperatures (<700 degrees C), compared with aromatic structural systems, the catalytic steam reforming showed better effects on the conversion of non-aromatics (e.g. sugars), particularly large molecules. Many aromatic ring systems can be formed at high temperatures (>= 700 degrees C), and the catalyst was effective on reforming them with steam. The char structural features of a catalyst gave more information to understand the reactions that occurred on the catalyst. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.