Microwave-Assisted Syngas Cleanup: Catalytic Reforming of Gasifier Tar Using a Low-Cost Iron Catalyst

Conference · Sun Mar 17 04:00:00 EDT 2024

OSTI ID:2328561

Bai, Xinwei ^[1]; Abedin, Ashraf ^[1]; Linge Gowda, Anitha Shankara ^[1]; Abdelsayed, Victor ^[2]; Muley, Pranjali ^[1]

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1. NETL Site Support Contractor, National Energy Technology Laboratory
2. National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)

The microwave-assisted gasification of plastic wastes to produce hydrogen-rich syngas is an attractive energy-saving plastic upcycling route, and the addition of biomass could improve the quality of the syngas produced; however, it could also increase the tar yield, which is an undesired, secondary product in this process. The presence of tars could result in downstream lines blockage, reactor down time and costly maintenance. Therefore, reducing or removing tar is desired. Due to its chemical complexity, toluene, which is one of the main tar constituents, could be used as a model tar compound. In this work, the microwave-assisted catalytic dry reforming of toluene was studied using Fe/Al2O3 as a catalyst, under CO2 at different reaction temperatures. The toluene reforming reaction was conducted using microwave and conventional thermal reactors. The results showed that under microwave irradiation, higher CO2 and toluene conversions, as well as better hydrogen yield can be observed compared to conventional toluene reforming at the same reaction temperature. The catalyst stability test was also investigated. Three reaction pathways were observed during microwave reaction.

• Research Organization: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
• OSTI ID: 2328561
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English