Reforming processes for syngas production: A mini-review on the current status, challenges, and prospects for biomass conversion to fuels

Abstract

Dedicated bioenergy combined with carbon capture and storage are important elements for the mitigation scenarios to limit the global temperature rise within 1.5 °C. Thus, the productions of carbon-negative fuels and chemicals from biomass is a key for accelerating global decarbonisation. The conversion of biomass into syngas has a crucial role in the biomass-based decarbonisation routes. Syngas is an intermediate product for a variety of chemical syntheses to produce hydrogen, methanol, dimethyl ether, jet fuels, alkenes, etc. The use of biomass-derived syngas has also been seen as promising for the productions of carbon-negative metal products. This paper reviews several possible technologies for the production of syngas from biomass, especially related to the technological options and challenges of reforming processes. The scope of the review includes partial oxidation (POX), autothermal reforming (ATR), catalytic partial oxidation (CPO), catalytic steam reforming (CSR) and membrane reforming (MR). Special attention is given to the progress of CSR for biomass-derived vapours as it has gained significant interest in recent years. Heat demand and efficiency together with properties of the reformer catalyst were reviewed more deeply, in order to understand and propose solutions to the problems that arise by the reforming of biomass-derived vapours and that need to be addressed in order to implement the technology on a big scale.