Autothermal Catalytic Reforming of Pine-Wood-Derived Fast Pyrolysis Oil in a 1.5 kg/h Pilot Installation: Performance of Monolithic Catalysts

Abstract

The autothermal catalytic reforming of pyrolysis oil for the production of syngas has been studied in a 1.5 kg/h pilot unit. The influence of the feed ratio’s air-fuel-steam and the catalyst amount on the product gas quality were determined. While using a combination of nickel and platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts in monolithic form, a nearly tar- and methane-free product gas could be produced. The maximum syngas yield was obtained at an equivalence ratio of 0.36 and a space time of 1.3 s. These conditions resulted in the production of 47 mol syngas per kg of pyrolysis oil, which corresponds to 97% of the theoretical maximum. The total syngas production decreased at lower equivalence ratios primarily due to increased formation of carbonaceous solids. Incomplete conversion of methane at lower equivalence ratios had a smaller impact on the syngas production. Decreasing the space time to 0.7 s increased both the methane and tar concentrations in the product gas. Tar concentrations remained below 6 mg/Nm3 ...