Biomass to hydrogen-rich syngas via steam gasification of bio-oil/biochar slurry over LaCo1-xCuxO3 perovskite-type catalysts

LaCo1-xCuxO3 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) perovskite-type catalysts were prepared, characterized and tested for hydrogen-rich syngas production from steam gasification of bio-oil/biochar slurry (bioslurry). The effects of the Cu-substitution, temperature, water to carbon molar ratio (WCMR) and bioslurry weight based hourly space velocity (WbHSV) on the hydrogen (H-2) yield were investigated. The results showed that the activity of LaCoO3 was improved by Cu-substitution. LaCo0.9Cu0.1O3 exhibited the best performance and gave higher H-2 yield and higher carbon conversion than that of non-catalytic process and also that of commercial 14 wt% Ni/ZrO2. Coke deposition could be depressed by higher temperature, higher WCMR or lower WbHSV, while higher temperature and lower WbHSV made for higher H-2 yield. 2 was deemed to be the optimum WCMR. A maximum H-2 yield of 75.33% and a maximum carbon conversion of 80.42% were obtained at 800 degrees C with a combination of WCMR = 2 and WbHSV = 15.36 h(-1). (c) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.