Abstract
This study describes a Langmuir-Hinshelwood based mechanistic kinetic model for the catalytic steam gasification of glucose, a biomass surrogate. This model accounts for the algebraic addition of dominant reactions: water gas-shift, the steam reforming of methane and the reverse dry reforming of methane. Reaction runs are developed in a mini-fluidized CREC Riser Simulator reactor using a highly performing Ni/La2O3-gamma-Al2O3 catalyst. H-2, CO, CO2, CH4 and H2O are the major product species observed with negligible coke and tar being formed. For adequate parameter estimation and model validation, two experimental data sets are considered. The first data set includes runs at different temperatures and reaction times. This data set is used to establish intrinsic kinetic parameters with narrow 95% confidence spans and low cross-correlation. The proposed model is validated using a second data set obtained by varying S/B ratio and reaction time. Thus, the proposed model includes phenomenologically based parameters that can successfully account for various observable chemical species in a wide range of operating conditions.