Enhancing the catalytic performance of Ni based catalysts in toluene reforming at low temperature by structuring on SiC extrudates

Abstract

In biomass gasification, the use of metal-supported catalysts as primary catalysts for tar removal in an in-bed configuration is limited by their fast deactivation due to the generation of coke deposits. Pellets, rings, or monolithic structures are crucial to support the catalytic phase for its use as a secondary catalyst in a downstream reactor to increase the lifetime of the catalyst and diminish operational issues such as pressure drops. In the present work, catalytic structuration on SiC extrudates was conducted for a (Ru)Ni/perovskite ((Ru)Ni/LSCF). The influence of the catalytic structuration on the physicochemical properties of the catalysts was investigated using XRD, N₂ physisorption, H₂-TPR and SEM. Both powders and structured catalysts were pre-treated in a model ex-biomass gas atmosphere and subsequently tested in toluene reforming reaction at relatively low temperature (550 °C). Ni/LSCF_powder was found to be inactive in toluene reforming, with the conversion being increased from <5% to 19% when adding Ru. An enhancement in the activity in toluene reforming was observed by structuration of the powders on SiC extrudates, increasing the conversion from <5% to 20% for Ni/LSCF and from 19% to 50% for RuNi/LSCF. This was ascribed to the strong metal–support interaction and the high resistance to coke deposition evidenced for the structured systems.