Promoting hydrogen production from toluene steam reforming by Ni-Al2O3 catalyst: Role of metal-support interaction

Green hydrogen production from biomass via gasification process is an emerging and widely concerned technology. However, tar as a byproduct of the gasification process can clog and corrode gasification equipment, thereby reducing gasification efficiency. While steam reforming technology can efficiently convert tar into H 2 , the catalyst deactivation remains a significant challenge. This research synthesized novel NiAl catalysts by one-pot evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) method for converting tar into H 2 . The results revealed that the 2.4-NiAl-7 catalyst was the most active, achieving a toluene conversion rate of 99.9 %, a hydrogen yield of 181.2 mmol/g toluene at 750 °C, and demonstrating excellent resistance to carbon deposition and long-term stability with a steam/carbon(S/C) ratio of 3. A series of characterizations confirmed that moderate metal-support interaction was crucial because of the confinement effect (embedding Ni nanoparticles into the mesopore) and the unique NiAl spinel structure. Additionally, the SRT performance (gas yields) was found to be positively correlated with the degree of Ni dispersion. This research reveals new insights in designing a catalyst for long-term practical applications in the conversion of tar into H 2 during steam reforming.