Catalytic reforming of municipal solid waste with char and coal bottom ash under steam-containing hydrogen-rich syngas

This study employed a falling fixed-bed reactor to investigate the fast pyrolysis of municipal solid waste (MSW) under different atmospheres and catalytic conditions. The effects of in-situ char and ex-situ coal bottom ash (CBA) catalysts on product distribution and quality were systematically examined. Under a steam-containing hydrogen-rich atmosphere, the gas yield reached 58.15 % (±1.69 %), while tar and char yields were 11.21 % (±0.91 %) and 30.64 % (±1.50 %), respectively, with the lowest PAHs selectivity of 34.76 % (±0.75 %). In-situ catalysis with char achieved the highest gas yield of 68.19 % (±1.41 %), whereas ex-situ CBA catalysis, rich in Fe2O3 and Al2O3, effectively reduced PAHs selectivity in tar to 27.59 % (±2.04 %). Cyclic experiments revealed that both catalysts experienced significant deactivation after three cycles, primarily due to carbon deposition and pore structure collapse. Overall, this study demonstrates a promising waste-to-energy pathway that utilizes low-cost, waste-derived catalysts to upgrade MSW into high-value syngas, offering significant environmental and economic benefits.