Catalytic hydrothermal gasification of cellulose and glucose

An optical micro-reactor (50 nL), an autoclave (120 mL), and a flow reactor (11.3 mL) were used to study the catalytic hydrothermal gasification of cellulose and glucose. In the micro-reactor experiments, Ni catalyst had a low gasification rate, but 96 wt% rate (35 mol% H2H2) was achieved in the autoclave when Ni/silica–alumina and cellulose were mixed well during slow heating to 350∘C (30 min). It was found from the micro-reactor that cellulose completely dissolved in water at 318∘C upon fast heating, and that Pt was the most active catalyst for glucose reactions. Gasification of glucose with Pt/γPt/γ-alumina catalyst was examined in flow experiments, where it was found that 67 wt% gasification rate (with up to 44 mol% H2H2) could be obtained at 360∘C and 30 MPa.