Production of renewable hydrogen by steam reforming of tar from biomass pyrolysis over supported Co catalysts

摘要

Co catalyst supported on BaAl_(12)O_(19) (BA) showed higher activity in the steam reforming of tar from the pyrolysis of biomass than those supported on A1_2O_3, ZrO2, SiO2, MgO, and TiO_2. Characterization results indicate that the Co metal particles supported on BA had high dispersion, although the surface area of Co/BA was small. High dispersion of Co metal particles on BA can account for the high steam reforming activity, and this high dispersion is related to the strong basicity of the BA surface. Strong basicity of BA and high dispersion of Co metal particles on BA are connected to high H_2O reactivity to form H_2, probably at the interface between Co metal and BA. In addition, the Co/BA catalyst exhibited higher reusability through the coke combustion and the subsequent reduction treatment than the Co/Al_2O_3 catalyst. This is attributed to the suppression of the solid reaction between the oxidized Co and BA.