Syngas Production from Gasification of Biomass over Rh/CeO₂/SiO₂ Catalyst: Pyrogasification, Steam Reforming and CO₂ Reforming

Conventional methods for biomass gasification to hydrogen and synthesis gas were carried out at high temperature (1073-1673 K). Recently Rh/CeO₂/SiO₂ catalyst has been shown to be very effective to the catalytic gasification of biomass at low reaction temperatures. The catalytic performance of the Rh/CeO₂/SiO₂ catalyst for the pyrogasification of cedar wood biomass was compared with that of a commercial steam reforming Ni catalyst. The Ni catalyst allowed the gasification of tar but not coke during the pyrogasification at 873-1023 K. in contrast, Rh/CeO₂/SiO₂ gasified part of the coke as well as tar. Testing of these catalysts for steam and CO₂ reforming of biomass found that steam reforming proceeded more easily than CO₂ reforming of methane over both catalysts.