Catalytic Reforming for Hydrogen Production from Biomass Gasification

Abstract

Hydrogen, as a clean and efficient energy carrier, plays a pivotal role in the global transition toward carbon neutrality. Biomass gasification coupled with catalytic reforming offers a promising route for the sustainable production of hydrogen by valorizing abundant renewable biomass resources, enabling low-carbon and even carbon-negative hydrogen generation. This review systematically summarizes recent progress in biomass gasification-catalytic reforming for hydrogen production, with a particular focus on the catalytic performance, stability, and reaction mechanisms of nickel-based, iron-based, noble metal-based, alkali/alkaline earth metal-based, bifunctional, and biochar-based catalysts. The effects of key operating parameters, including gasification temperature, steam-to-biomass ratio, and catalyst loading, on hydrogen yield and syngas quality are critically discussed, and the optimal operating windows for process control are identified. In addition, the major deactivation pathways of catalysts are analyzed in depth, including the multistage formation of carbon deposits and their morphological classification, as well as the underlying causes of metal sintering and poisoning. Corresponding mitigation strategies, such as bimetallic synergy, core-shell confinement structures, promoter incorporation, and optimized regeneration methods, are also summarized. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of biomass gasification-reforming technologies for hydrogen production and to offer insights into future research directions.