Roles and fates of K and Ca species on biochar structure during in-situ tar H₂O reforming over nascent biochar

In order to obtain the catalytic effects of K and Ca species on the biochar structure during in-situ tar H₂O reforming over nascent biochar, the H-form/K-loaded/Ca-loaded rice husks were studied for the in-situ tar reforming in the two-stage fluidized bed/fixed bed reactor. The specific reaction pathway of K and Ca for tar reforming was investigated, associated with the changes of biochar structures, through the methods of ICP-AES, Raman, FTIR and XPS. The results indicate that the in-situ volatiles (tar and free radicals) H₂O reforming over nascent biochar could be conducted by three possible ways: occupying reactive sites on biochar, changing biochar structures and/or changing the total/surface concentration of AAEM species. The mechanisms of in-situ tar H₂O reforming by K and Ca species were different: tar cracking into low-quality tar or small-molecule gas may be catalyzed by K, while the combination of tar with biochar would be promoted by Ca. The volatilizations of K and Ca with the presence of volatiles were to a large extent in accordance with their valences (monovalent K⁺ and divalent Ca²⁺) and their boiling points. The subsequent transformation from the small aromatic ring systems to the larger ones occurred due to the volatile-biochar interaction. During the in-situ tar H₂O reforming over biochar, K and Ca act as the active sites on biochar surface to promote the increase of active intermediates (C–O bonds and C–O–K/Ca), which promotes the tar-biochar interactions.