Catalytic steam reforming of biomass over Ni-based catalysts: Conversion from poplar leaves to hydrogen-rich syngas

A series of Ni/SBA-15 catalysts with Ni contents from 5 wt%-20 wt% and CaO-12.5%Ni/SBA-15 catalysts with CaO contents from 1.4 wt%-9.8 wt% have been prepared. The structure of the catalysts was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), N-2 adsorption-desorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The performance of catalytic steam reforming of the poplar leaves to the hydrogen-rich syngas was tested in a fixed-bed reactor. The results indicate that the 7.0wt%CaO-12.5wt%Ni/SBA-15 catalyst exhibits the best performance for the catalytic steam reforming of poplar leaves to hydrogen-rich syngas. The ratio of H-2 : CO can reach ca 5 : 1 in the hydrogen-rich syngas. The yield of H-2 can reach 273.30 mL/g (poplar leaves). In the CaO-Ni/SBA-15 catalyst, Ni active component mainly fills the role of catalytic steam reforming of the poplar leaves, and CaO active component mainly plays the role as water-gas shift and CO2 sorbent.