Investigation of Ni/Fe/Mg zeolite-supported catalysts in steam reforming of tar using simulated-toluene as model compound

•Steam reforming of toluene over MgO and Fe promoted Ni/zeolite-supported catalysts.•Ni-Fe-Mg/zeolite yields the highest tar reforming of toluene over others when Ni/Fe is less than or equal 0.77.•Fe indeed promoted the reducibility of the Ni species.•Addition of Mg to Ni-Fe/zeolite catalyst enhanced the tar reforming reactions and increased the carbon deposition tolerance.

Catalytic performance of Ni/zeolite, Ni-Fe/zeolite, and Ni-Fe-Mg/zeolite catalysts were investigated in steam reforming of toluene as a biomass tar model compound to explore promotional effect of MgO and Fe on Ni/zeolite support. The Ni-Fe-Mg/zeolite catalysts with optimum metallic composition showed higher catalytic performance over corresponding monometallic Ni and Fe catalysts and Ni-Fe/zeolite (bimetallic) catalysts. Addition of Mg to Ni-Fe/zeolite catalyst enhanced the tar reforming reactions and increased the carbon deposition tolerance. The results suggest that Ni-Fe/zeolite and Ni-Fe-Mg/zeolite catalysts have great potential for application in the steam reforming of biomass tar.