Development of new nickel based catalyst for tar reforming with superior resistance to sulfur poisoning and coking in biomass gasification

Gasification of tar by catalytic steam reforming was examined in the gasification process of biomass, such as dried sewage sludge and wood chips. The tar reforming characteristics of the newly-developed Ni/MgO–CaO (based on dolomite) catalyst which was doped with WO3 as a sulfur-resistant promoter, was investigated using a simulated gas containing naphthalene as tar. The result has confirmed that the developed catalyst shows a high naphthalene reforming activity and is stable even in gas containing hydrogen sulfide. The catalyst also exhibited superior resistance to coking as well as sulfur poisoning compared to several commercial steam-reforming catalysts.