Production of Hydrogen and Synthesis gas via Cu-Ni/Al2O3 catalyzed gasification of bagasse in supercritical water media

Bagasse as a real biomass was converted to hydrogen rich gas via catalytic supercritical water gasification process. To find the effect of Cu on selectivity of products, Cu promoted Ni-γAl2O3 catalysts were prepared with 1 to 20wt% Ni and 0.5 to 10wt% Cu loadings via impregnation method. Catalysts were characterized by ICP, BET, XRD, H2 chemisorption and TEM technique as well CHNS analysis was carried out for elemental analysis of bagasse. The biomass supercritical water gasification process was performed in a batch micro-reactor at 400oC and 240 bars. The total gas yield increased with increasing in Ni and Cu loadings up to 15wt% Ni and 7.5 wt% Cu and became approximately constant. The catalytic process increased hydrogen yield to 9.5, CO yield to 2.2 and light hydrocarbons to 0.59 mmol/g bagasse. Total H2 selectivity (THS) ratio increased with increasing in Ni and Cu loading reached a maximum at 15%wt Ni and 7.5%wt Cu and then began to decrease.