Development of Ni- and Co-based Alloy Catalysts for Steam Reforming of Biomass Tar

Improvement of catalysts for the steam reforming of tar derived from the pyrolysis of biomass is needed in terms of activity, stability, and resistance to coke deposition. Ni and Co are known to be active components for the steam reforming reaction, and one effective method to improve the catalytic performance is the alloying of the active metal with another suitable metal. The development of Ni–Fe, Ni–Co, and Co–Fe alloy catalysts is described. The relationship between the promoting effect of alloy formation and the characterization of alloy particles is introduced. The catalytic performance of alloy particles is greatly influenced by the properties such as components, compositions, crystal structures, uniformity, and so on. In particular, utilization of hydrotalcite-like compounds as the catalyst precursors can produce alloy particles with uniform composition as well as higher catalytic activity than those prepared by the conventional impregnation method, demonstrating an effective method for preparing excellent alloy catalysts.