Catalytic Performance of Rh/CeO2 in the Gasification of Cellulose to Synthesis Gas at Low Temperature

• Published in: Industrial & engineering chemistry research Vol. 40; no. 25; pp. 5894 - 5900
• Main Authors: Asadullah, Mohammad, Fujimoto, Kaoru, Tomishige, Keiichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 12-12-2001
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biomass; Catalysis; Catalytic reactions; Chemistry; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Natural energy; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Conversion rate; Cellulose; Biomass; Synthesis gas; Silica; Supported catalyst; Reaction mechanism; Gasification; Zirconium Oxides; Platinoid; Magnesium Oxides; Low temperature; Cerium Oxides; Fluidized bed reactor; BET method; Catalytic reaction; Transition metal; Experimental study; Titanium Oxides; Heterogeneous catalysis; Transmission electron microscopy; Rhodium; Medium effect; Kinetics; Surface area; Performance; Catalyst activity; Alumina
• DOI: 10.1021/ie010160z
• EISSN: 1520-5045
• ISSN: 0888-5885

The gasification of cellulose has been investigated on Rh catalysts supported on CeO2, ZrO2, Al2O3, TiO2, MgO, and SiO2 at very low temperatures (723−823 K) in a laboratory-scale fluidized-bed reactor using air as a gasifying agent. Of the catalysts, only Rh/CeO2 showed the excellent catalytic performance in the cellulose gasification at above 823 K, resulting in 100% carbon conversion to gas. The details of reaction conditions that affected the performance of the catalyst have been optimized. The best results have been found at above 823 K using the total flow rate of 170 cm3 min-1 of inlet gases. The total carbon conversion was achieved when 50 mg of cellulose was used in a batch. The Rh loading of 1.2 × 10-4 mol (g of catalyst)-1 on CeO2 and W/F of 1.8 gh mol-1 were optima for the total conversion of carbon to gases. Fresh and used catalysts were characterized by a Brunauer−Emmett−Teller (BET) analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The BET surface area has been decreased from 59 to 24 m2/g during the first batch reaction; however, this value decreased to 21 m2/g during the next 20 batches. No Rh particle was observed in the TEM image of the fresh catalyst; however, in the used catalyst, it was observed, and the particle size was 1.5−2.2 nm on CeO2.