Catalytic reforming of biomass raw fuel gas to syngas for FT liquid fuels production

The gasification of biomass to obtain a syngas provides a competitive means for clean FT (Fischer-Tropsch) liquid fuels from renewable resources. The feasibility of the process depends on the upgrading of raw fuel gas from gasifier to desired syngas. In this paper, partial oxidation reforming of biomass raw fuel gas with addition of 3-8 mol% O-2 were investigated over nickel based monolith catalysts prepared by wet impregnation of NiO on the surface of cordierite. The composition of producer syngas was analyzed by gas chromatogram (GC) and gas chromatogram - mass spectrum (GC-MS). The carbon deposition on the surface of catalyst was analyzed by method of thermogravimetry. The results showed that partial oxidation reforming process had excellent performance of upgrading biomass raw fuel gas. Under the reforming temperature of 780 degrees C, above 99% of biomass tar and other hydrocarbons in the raw fuel gas was converted into H-2 and CO. Only trace lighter hydrocarbons (< 1 mg/Nm(3)) as aerosol and 0.2 mol% CH4 were remained in the syngas. No coke deposition was detected during 108 h lifetime test, which indicated that the addition of O-2 can effectively prohibit the coke formation on the surface of catalyst. The H-2/CO ratio of producer syngas can be adjusted from 1.2 to 2.5 with addition of steam, which was suitable to the synthesis of FT liquid fuels.