The hydrogasification of wood

It is demonstrated that wood can be gasified over an aluminia-nickel catalyst in 1 atm of hydrogen pressure to give a 75% carbon conversion to methane at optimal conditions. These optimal conditions correspond to those which are used in the Waterloo Fast Pyrolysis Process to obtain maximum liquid yields. At higher temperatures (above 600/sup 0/C), equilibrium considerations greatly reduce the yield of methane. The success of the hydrogasification step suggests the possibility of an integrated gasification process which consists of hydrogasification followed by steam reforming and membrane separation of product gas to yield at CO/H/sub 2/ mixture and a H/sub 2/-rich stream which is returned to the hydrogasification step. In effect, the process converts wood to its equivalent yield of CO and H/sub 2/ with no added regents except the moisture in the wood.