Optimal Fe/Ni/Ca-Al catalyst for tar model steam reforming by using the Taguchi method

The goal of this research was to optimize the preparation conditions of a catalyst for tar reforming to produce syngas. The biomass tar model, consisting of 90 wt% toluene and 10% pyrene, was used instead of real biomass tar. The Ca/Al supports and active metals (Fe and Ni) were prepared by using the co-precipitation and wet impregnation method, respectively. The gravimetric method and the gas chromatography were employed to assess the tar content and hydrogen production of the prepared catalysts for reducing tar formation. According to the Taguchi method, three operating parameters, including Ca/Al ratios of the support, calcination temperatures of the supports, and the loading content (wt%) of Fe and Ni active metals, were investigated. The results show that the optimized preparation conditions for minimizing tar residue were Ca/Al molar ratio of 2.5, the calcining temperature of 1073 K, 3 wt% Fe metal loading, and 7 wt% Ni metal loading, which could be validated with a small difference of less 1.4% than the prediction. Among these parameters, the content of Ni loading was both the primary factor in enhancing the tar conversion and hydrogen production.