Catalytic steam reforming of cellulose-derived compounds using a char-supported iron catalyst

This study aims to understand the mechanism for the removal of tar in the gasification of biomass with a char-supported iron catalyst. The pyrolysis of a pure cellulose sample and the following steam reforming of the pyrolysis products have been performed at temperatures from 500 to 850 °C. Our results indicate that tars are hard to be reformed without a catalyst. At low temperatures (< 700 °C), compared with aromatic structural systems, the catalytic steam reforming showed better effects on the conversion of non-aromatics (e.g. sugars), particularly large molecules. Many aromatic ring systems can be formed at high temperatures (≥ 700 °C), and the catalyst was effective on reforming them with steam. The char structural features of a catalyst gave more information to understand the reactions that occurred on the catalyst.