Exploring Simultaneous Upgrading and Purification of Biomass−Gasified Gases Using Plasma Catalysis

Abstract

Tar and substantial CH4 and CO2 are contained in gasified fuels, which pose an obstacle to direct chemical synthesis, and this is a predominant challenge for biomass gasification technology. Herein, a packed−bed dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor was built for simultaneous CH4 dry reforming and tar removal with a La−Ni/γ−Al2O3 catalyst. The interaction between CH4 dry reforming and tar removal in plasma catalysis was investigated. The results indicated that plasma catalysis can achieve high−efficiency simultaneous tar removal and CH4 dry reforming, as indicated by the reactants’ conversion (14% increase for CCH4 and CCO2 at 450 °C in the presence of tar and a 37% increase for the tar removal rate at 360 °C when CH4 and CO2 were introduced), and the mechanism for mutual promotion of CH4 dry reforming and tar removal was elucidated through catalyst characterization results. In addition, a possible reaction mechanism for tar removal via plasma catalysis was proposed. These findings provide valuable insights for simultaneous upgrading and purification of gases generated by biomass gasification.