Synthesis of zeolite-based porous catalysts from coal gasification fine slag for steam reforming of toluene

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) 2023-07, Vol.274, p.127294, Article 127294
• Main Authors: Xu, Liya, Dong, Kaiming, Guo, Feiqiang, Liu, Sha, Qiao, Qixia, Mao, Songbo, Qian, Lin, Bai, Yonghui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catalytic-reforming; Coal gasification fine slag; H2-rich gas; Porous zeolite-based catalysts; Toluene
• ISSN: 0360-5442
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.127294

In this paper, three-dimensional porous zeolite-based composite materials were synthesized from coal gasification fine slag (CGFS) via a feasible and simple NaOH activation and hydrothermal crystallization method. The composite materials were evaluated as catalysts for the catalytic reforming of biomass tar using toluene as a model compound. The results indicate that the structure and activity of the obtained zeolite-based catalysts are significantly influenced by the mass ratio of NaOH to CGFS. At NaOH to CGFS mass ratio of 0.5, a unique three-dimensional cage-like porous structure mainly composed of NaAlSiO4 and ZSM-11 can be formed, and iron ions inherited from CGFS were reduced into metallic Fe on the surface of the material. Based on the developed pore structure and high surface activity, NaOH-GSP@0.5 showed excellent catalytic performance on toluene reforming, leading to the production of H2-rich fuel gas. The conversion rate of toluene was around 73% and remained excellent stability in 210 min continuous experiment at 800 °C, and the average yield for H2 reached as high as 3900 μmol/min. The excellent catalytic performance of NaOH-GSP confirmed that it had great potential as a low-cost catalyst for biomass tar conversion and has broad application prospects in biomass gasification. [Display omitted] •Porous zeolite-based composites were synthesized from coal gasification fine slag.•ZSM-11 was formed at NaOH to CGFS mass ratio of 0.5.•NaOH-GSP@0.5 showed high catalytic activity in converting toluene into H2-rich gas.•The toluene conversion was around 73% and remained stable for 210 min.•The average yield for H2 reached as high as 3900 μmol/min.