Review of recent developments in Ni-based catalysts for biomass gasification

Biomass gasification is recognized as one of the most promising solutions for renewable energy and environmental sustainability. However, tar formation in gasifier remains as one of the main hurdles that hinder commercialization. Nickel based catalyst is widely used in chemical industries and is proven as one of the most effective transition metal catalysts in biomass gasification for tar cracking and reforming. This paper presents a review of various commercial nickel catalysts that have been evaluated for tar elimination in biomass gasification. This review also looks at recent advancements in nickel based catalyst used in biomass gasification, including discussion on the effects of different support, promoter and particle size on the catalytic performance. Future direction of biomass gasification, including reactive flash volatilization and steam gasification, are also discussed in this review.