AFe2O4 (A=Cu, Ni, Co, Mg, Ce, Mn) Catalysts for Hydrogen-Rich Syngas Production from Corn Straw Pyrolysis-Catalytic Steam Reforming

Abstract

CuFe₂O₄, an iron-based spinel catalyst, along with NiFe₂O₄, CoFe₂O₄, MgFe₂O₄, CeFe₂O₄, and MnFe₂O₄ are prepared using the sol–gel method. Different modified transition metals have been investigated to determine the influence on hydrogen production in a fixed-bed reactor. The results indicated that all the prepared catalysts exhibit a spinel structure. At a reaction temperature of 700 °C, with a water–carbon molar ratio of S/C = 1.5 and a biomass-to-catalyst mass ratio of 1:1, the performance ranking of the AFe₂O₄ spinel catalysts is as follows: CeFe₂O₄ > CuFe₂O₄ > MnFe₂O₄ > NiFe₂O₄ > CoFe₂O₄ > MgFe₂O₄ > no catalyst. CeFe₂O₄ and CuFe₂O₄ catalysts demonstrate superior performance, with hydrogen volume fractions of 42.26% and 41.63% respectively. The AFe₂O₄ catalyst exhibits effective catalytic activity in the production of hydrogen from corn straw using water vapor, with the synergistic effect of A metal and Fe enhancing the catalytic activity of AFe₂O₄.