Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 July 2011
The addition of Fe addition with suitable amount to Ni /Al2O3 catalyst showed higher catalytic performance than corresponding monometallic Ni and Fe catalysts in the steam reforming of tar from the pyrolysis of cedar wood. Characterization of the catalysts indicates the formation of the Ni-Fe alloys and the surface segregation of Fe atoms on the alloys, and it was also suggested that the structure was almost maintained during the reaction. The surface Fe atoms accept oxygen atom from steam and subsequently supply oxygen species to adsorbed carbonaceous species on neighboring surface Ni atoms, which is connected to the promotion of the steam reforming reaction of tar and the suppression of the coke formation.