Nickel-substituted bariumhexaaluminates as novel catalysts in steam reforming of tars

•Ba-Ni-hexaaluminate, a new catalytic material for steam reforming of tars, has been subjected to initial studies.•Both lab-scale and slip stream experiments show a promising catalytic activity for steam-reforming.•The material also has activity as a high-temperature water-gas-shift catalyst

This work investigates the performance of Ba–Ni-hexaaluminate, BaNixAl12 − xO19, as a new catalyst in the steam-reforming of tars. Substituted hexaaluminates are synthesized and characterized. Steam reforming tests are carried out with both a model-substance (1-methylnaphthalene) and a slip-stream from a circulating fluidized bed gasifier. The water–gas-shift activity is studied in a lab-scale set-up. Barium–nickel substituted hexaaluminates show a high catalytic activity for tar cracking, and also shows activity for water–gas-shift.

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