Catalysts for steam gasification

An obvious improvement in the steam gasification of biomass for synthesis gas production is to operate at higher temperatures and to use catalysts to gasify as much of the char and liquid products as possible. Laboratory-scale experiments have been carried out to examine this possibility (Mitchell et al, 1980). Nickel precipitated on silica alumina (1 1) and a mixture of silica alumina and nickel on alumina were evaluated as catalysts for steam gasification at 750°C and 850°C and atmospheric pressure. The results are summarized in Table 9.6. The function of the silica alumina is to crack the hydrocarbon... 

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