Biomass Gasification to Hydrogen and Syngas at Low Temperature: Novel Catalytic System Using Fluidized-Bed Reactor

We have developed a novel catalytic process for hydrogen and syngas production from biomass at very low temperature using an excellent catalyst (Rh/CeO2/SiO2) in a continuous-feeding fluidized-bed reactor using cellulose as a model compound. The catalyst simultaneously promoted the reforming and combustion reactions of pyrolyzed products of cellulose, such as tar, char, and so forth, and the water–gas shift reaction. In the presence of a mixture of air and steam, the cellulose completely converted to gas products at 773 K. This work can represent a new and energy efficient approach to the synthesis of hydrogen and syngas from biomass.