Iron Oxide over Silica-Doped Alumina Catalyst for Catalytic Steam Reforming of Toluene as a Surrogate Tar Biomass Species

An iron oxide over silica-doped alumina catalyst was successfully synthesized using one-pot, solvent-deficient method. The prepared Fe2O3/SiO2–Al2O3 catalyst was characterized using TGA/DTG, XRD, N2 adsorption isotherm, NH3-TPD, and SEM. The TGA/DTG and XRD results show that the presence of Si enhances the stability of γ-Al2O3 support at high temperatures. The prepared Fe2O3/SiO2–Al2O3 catalyst was obtained by calcination at 950 °C, with a high BET specific surface area (49 m2/g). The NH3-TPD showed that Fe addition can significantly increase catalyst acidity. SEM images confirmed the textural properties of the catalysts in term of surface morphology. The catalytic activity of Fe2O3/SiO2−Al2O3 catalysts was examined in a CREC fluidized riser simulator using toluene as model compound for biomass tar. Experiments with this catalyst yielded high toluene conversions. Composition of gases produced (H2, CO, CO2, and CH4) were close to chemical equilibrium at 25 s and 600 °C. These results indicate that the Fe2O3/SiO2–Al2O3 catalyst is a promising fluidizable catalyst for tar reduction. This novel supported metal oxide catalyst has a great potential for industrial use since it is a relatively cheap, less toxic, and long-lasting operation.