In
order to promote process intensification in syngas production
from biomass gasification, our research team has already considered
the integration of transition metal-based nanocatalysts in the biomass
feedstock through its impregnation with metal salt aqueous solutions.
The purpose of this work is to provide new insights into the complex
physicochemical and catalytic mechanisms involved in this catalytic
pathway from nickel salt. Applying a primary vacuum during impregnation
allowed the rate of nickel insertion to be optimized and the generation
of strong interactions between the metal cations and the lignocellulosic
matrix. During biomass pyrolysis, Ni0 nanoparticles (NPs)
form in situ below 500 °C through carbothermal reduction and
provide the active sites for adsorption of aromatic hydrocarbons and
subsequent catalytic conversion. In order to test whether it was possible
to improve the catalytic efficiency of Ni0 NPs by making
them available right from the pyrolysis onset, some preformed Ni0 NPs were inserted into the biomass prior to pyrolysis. The
in situ generated Ni0 NPs exhibit higher catalytic efficiency,
particularly for aromatic tar conversion, than preformed Ni0 NPs. The high decrease in hard-to-destroy aromatic hydrocarbons
formation during pyrolysis is of particular interest in the overall
gasification process. The proposed catalytic strategy reveals promising
for simplifying the cleaning up of the producer gas.
The catalytic steam reforming of four different aqueous fractions of bio-oil has been carried out in a fixed bed reactor at 650 ºC and atmospheric pressure using a Ni-Co/Al- Additional reforming experiments conducted with acetic acid, phenol, furfural, levoglucosan and guaiacol helped to confirm and explain the results obtained during the catalytic steam reforming of the aqueous fractions.
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