Nickel catalyst in coupled plasma-catalytic system for tar removal

Joanna Woroszył-Wojno,Michał Młotek,Bogdan Ulejczyk,Krzysztof Krawczyk

doi:10.2478/pjct-2021-0026

Joanna Woroszył-Wojno, Michał Młotek + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2478/pjct-2021-0026

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Abstract

Abstract Tar formation is a significant issue during biomass gasification. Catalytic removal of tars with the use of nickel catalyst allows to obtain high conversion rate but coke formation on catalysts surface lead to its deactivation. Toluene decomposition as a tar imitator was studied in gliding discharge plasma-catalytic system with the use of 5%, 10% and 15% by weight Ni and NiO catalyst on Al2O3 (α-Al2O3) and Peshiney (γ-Al2O3) carrier in gas composition similar to the gas after biomass pyrolysis. The optimal concentration of nickel was identified to be 10% by weight on Al2O3. It was stable in all studied initial toluene concentrations, discharge power while C7H8 conversion rate remained high – up to 82%. During the process, nickel catalysts were deactivated by sooth formation on the surface. On catalysts surface, toluene decomposition products were identified including benzyl alcohol and 3-hexen-2-one.

Highlights

Obtaining energy from solid biomass is one of the ways of reducing fossil fuels usage[1]
Toluene decomposition as a tar imitator was studied in gliding discharge plasma-catalytic system with the use of 5%, 10% and 15% by weight Ni and NiO catalyst on Al2O3 (α-Al2O3) and Peshiney (γ-Al2O3) carrier in gas composition similar to the gas after biomass pyrolysis
The measurements of toluene decomposition were performed in plasma-catalytic systems with the use of nickel catalysts

Summary

Introduction

Obtaining energy from solid biomass is one of the ways of reducing fossil fuels usage[1]. One of the most significant problems during gasification of biomass is tar formation, which concentration may reach up to 100 g/Nm3. It is mostly containing mono and polycyclic hydrocarbons[7, 8]. The most widely studied catalysts are nickel based due to the high activity and lower costs compared to noble metals (Pd, Pt). They can be deactivated due to coke formation on the surface[11,12,13]

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