Fluidizable Fe-Co/Ce-ZrO2 Catalysts for Steam Reforming of Toluene as a Tar Surrogate in Biomass Gasification

The Ce-ZrO2 composite based catalysts were successfully synthesized using a hydrothermal synthesis technique. The Fe-Co metals were incorporated on the Ce-ZrO2 composite to enhance its catalytic performance during steam reforming of toluene. X-ray diffraction revealed the crystalline phases of the catalysts. The addition of Fe and Co improved the acidity (NH3-temperature programmed desorption) as well as the specific surface area (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis) of the catalysts. The catalytic performance of the fluidized catalysts was evaluated under the realistic conditions in a CREC riser simulator at three different temperatures (600, 650, and 700 degrees C). The Fe-Co promoted Fe-Co/Ce-ZrO2 catalysts exhibited better performance for long-term operation in the steam reforming of toluene, while the Ce-ZrO2 composite catalyst stimulates CO(2 )reforming of methane. Moreover, Fe-Co/Ce-ZrO2 showed the highest H-2 production (i.e., 63%) at 700 degrees C. Thus, Fe- Co/Ce-ZrO2, catalysts hold great promise in producing high-quality syngas for methanol synthesis and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.