Catalytic cracking of biomass tar together with syngas production over red brick powder-supported nickel catalysts

The catalytic cracking of biomass tar accompanied with syngas production was investigated over red brick powder (RBP) supported nickel (Ni/RBP) catalyst. The Ni/RBP catalysts demonstrated high catalytic performance on biomass tar removal and production of CO and H2. The tar conversion efficiency was 96.76% at 800 °C together with the yields of CO and H2 being 266.59 ml/g and 297.71 ml/g, respectively, when the nickel loading quantity accounted for 10.25 wt% of the catalyst. The increase in cracking temperatures from 500 °C to 800 °C showed a positive influence on tar removal and syngas production. The loading of nickel on RBP also contributed well to tar removal and syngas production. The Ni/RBP catalyst was beneficial to cracking some heavy molecular compounds into lighter species, and possessed a reasonable resistance to coke deposition. The results suggested that Ni/RBP catalyst would be a greatly potential catalyst for the efficient cracking of biomass tar into syngas. We explored the effect of Ni/RBP catalyst on tar removal and syngas production. [Display omitted] •Ni/RBP catalyst was prepared and evaluated for biomass tar conversion.•Biomass tar can efficiently be converted mainly into syngas over Ni/RBP catalyst.•Ni/RBP catalyst possessed a reasonable resistance to coke deposition.•Ni/RBP catalyst was relatively stable for 12 h.