Removal of biomass tar by steam reforming over calcined scallop shell supported Cu catalysts

In this study, the main purpose is to develop low-cost catalysts with high activity and stability for high quality syngas production via steam reforming of biomass tar in biomass gasification process. The calcined waste scallop shell(CS) supported copper(Cu) catalysts are prepared for steam reforming of biomass tar. The prepared Cu supported on CS catalysts exhibit higher catalytic activity than those on commercial CaO and Al_2O_3. Characterization results indicate that Cu/CS has a strong interaction between Cu and CaO in CS support, resulting in the formation of calcium copper oxide phase which could stabilize Cu species and provide new active sites for the tar reforming. In addition, the strong basicity of CS support and other inorganic elements contained in CS support could enhance the activity of Cu/CS. The addition of a small amount of Co is found to be able to stabilize the catalytic activity of Cu/CS catalysts,making them reusable after regeneration without any loss of their activities.