Catalyst performance of Rh/CeO2/SiO2 in the pyrogasification of biomass

The catalytic performance of Rh/CeO2/SiO2, steam reforming catalyst G-91, and dolomite has been evaluated in the pyrolytic, CO2, oxygen, and steam gasification of biomass in a laboratory-scale continuous feeding fluidized bed gasifier. With respect to the biomass conversion to the product gas and selectivity of the useful gases, Rh/CeO2/SiO2 has shown much better results in all gasification systems. In the pyrolytic gasification, about 79% of the carbon in the biomass was converted to the product gas at 923 K. The carbon conversion reached about 95% level when a small amount of oxygen (ER = 0.18) was introduced with nitrogen. However, under almost the same conditions, the carbon conversion was within 75-80% of the level on G-91 catalysts. Although a small amount of char was formed on the highly active Rh/CeO2/SiO2, there was no tar found in the effluent gas stream; thus, this process has great potential to be utilized at the commercial level. With CO2 and steam in the absence of oxygen, it is also possible to convert char to the product gas.