Catalysts for dual fluidised bed biomass gasification-an experimental study at the pilot plant scale

Energy from renewable sources is expected to contribute increasingly to the future energy supply. Particularly, the utilisation of biomass via gasification features a high potential for local energy supply. In addition to the conventional heat and power supply, the biomass-derived product gas is utilisable for further conversion, e. g. into liquid fuels, synthetic natural gas or even chemicals. In the field of biomass gasification systems, fluidised bed gasification has achieved notable relevance. Biomass gasification by fluidised bed processing produces high-quality product gas. However, the technical and economical effectiveness is not yet competitive. A major issue is the purity of the product gas, which is mainly focused on the gasification originating tar. A promising option to yield tar-free product gas is the application of a catalyst directly in the fluidised bed process. The present paper outlines catalysts for biomass gasification in fluidised bed processing. Recent activities in the development of gasifier catalysts are highlighted. Different catalysts are described depending on their performance and capability regarding tar conversion. The scope of catalysts ranges from naturally occurring materials to synthetic materials. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.