Development of a bimetallic dolomite based tar cracking catalyst

In this study a bimetallic dolomite based tar cracking catalyst was developed and tested. It was enriched in Ni and Fe with BET surface area of 12.31 m2/g. The catalytic characterizations were tested with tar simulated by naphthalene, and with tar produced by biomass and coal co-pyrolysis. 93% naphthalene was decomposed at 950 °C. A first order apparent kinetic model was developed. Activation energy of 63.96 kJ/mol and pre-exponential factor of 396.2/s were calculated. Furthermore, reduction in char yield by 7%, when the catalyst was used in the biomass–coal co-pyrolysis, was observed.

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► Fe− and Ni− are added in the novel tar cracking catalyst.
► The simulated compound—naphthalene is decomposed 93% at 950 °C under this catalyst.
► Activation energy of 63.96 kJ/mol and pre-exponential factor of 396.2/s are achieved.
► The catalyst can increase the co-pyrolysis efficiency of biomass and coal.