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Catalytic Gasification of Carbonaceous Materials for Sustainable Energy
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Catalytic Gasification of Carbonaceous Materials for Sustainable Energy

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Industrial Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 3210

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Juntao Wei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Interests: catalytic gasification; co-gasification; co-pyrolysis; ash chemistry; reaction kinetics
Prof. Dr. Bin Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Engineering, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
Interests: thermochemical conversion of biomass; biocarbon materials; carbon capture and conversion
Dr. Xudong Song

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Utilization of Coal and Green Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
Interests: resource utilization of carbon-containing waste; high-temperature flame spectroscopic diagnosis of carbon-containing substrates

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The gasification of carbonaceous materials, such as coal, biomass, petroleum coke, etc., is an important technological route for clean and high-efficiency energy conversion. However, tar, fine particulate matter, AAEMs, sulfur, nitrogen, and chlorine-containing compounds generated from the gasification process threaten downstream equipment and applications. Catalytic gasification helps to improve efficiency, reduce tar content in syngas, regulate gas composition, and decrease investment costs; it thus has attracted increasing attention from researchers and the industry. This Special Issue focuses on topics such as H2-rich syngas production, the removal of AAEMs, sulfur, nitrogen, and chlorine-containing compounds, gasification kinetics and mechanisms, tar cracking and removal, reactor design, process modeling, economic evaluation, carbon footprint analysis, etc. Original research papers, review articles, and short communications are all welcome.

Dr. Juntao Wei
Prof. Dr. Bin Li
Dr. Xudong Song
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Catalysts is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • H2-rich syngas production
  • gasification kinetics and mechanisms
  • tar cracking and removal
  • economic evaluation
  • process modeling

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2452 KB  
Article
Effect of Lignin Molecular Weight on Product Distribution: A Comparative Study Between Pyrolysis and Ru/C-Catalyzed Depolymerization
by Jie Yang, Xinyu Jiao, Shihao Lv, Anjiang Gao, Shu Zhang and Yong Huang
Catalysts 2026, 16(4), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16040319 - 2 Apr 2026
Viewed by 463
Abstract
Lignin, a complex and heterogeneous polymer, poses significant challenges for effective thermal valorization due to its broad molecular weight distribution and structural diversity. This study systematically compares the effect of lignin’s molecular weight on product distribution under pyrolysis and Ru/C-catalyzed depolymerization conditions. Fractionated [...] Read more.
Lignin, a complex and heterogeneous polymer, poses significant challenges for effective thermal valorization due to its broad molecular weight distribution and structural diversity. This study systematically compares the effect of lignin’s molecular weight on product distribution under pyrolysis and Ru/C-catalyzed depolymerization conditions. Fractionated lignin samples with distinct molecular weights were subjected to identical thermal and catalytic conversion pathways. Pyrolysis results indicate that, compared with low-molecular-weight (low-MW) lignin, high-molecular-weight (high-MW) lignin more readily generates phenolic compounds, with the relative content of guaiacol increasing by nearly twofold. In contrast, products derived from low-MW lignin contain a higher abundance of unsaturated structures, such as 4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol, suggesting that side chain cleavage and rearrangement reactions are more pronounced. In contrast, Ru/C-catalyzed depolymerization exhibits a stronger molecular-weight-dependent selectivity, where low-MW lignin is more readily converted into carboxylic acids due to enhanced accessibility of terminal functional groups and reduced structural condensation. This comparative analysis demonstrates that lignin’s molecular weight plays a process-dependent role in governing product distribution, providing guidance for tailored lignin valorization strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Gasification of Carbonaceous Materials for Sustainable Energy)
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15 pages, 4407 KB  
Article
Sustainable Hydrogen from Methanol: NiCuCe Catalyst Design with CO2-Driven Regeneration for Carbon-Neutral Energy Systems
by Yankun Jiang, Liangdong Zhao and Siqi Li
Catalysts 2025, 15(5), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15050478 - 13 May 2025
Viewed by 1176
Abstract
This study addresses energy transition challenges through the development of NiCuCe catalysts for high-purity hydrogen production via methanol decomposition, with carbon deposition issues mitigated by CO2-assisted regeneration. As fossil fuel depletion advances and the urgency of climate change increases, methanol-derived hydrogen [...] Read more.
This study addresses energy transition challenges through the development of NiCuCe catalysts for high-purity hydrogen production via methanol decomposition, with carbon deposition issues mitigated by CO2-assisted regeneration. As fossil fuel depletion advances and the urgency of climate change increases, methanol-derived hydrogen (CH3OH → CO + 2H2) emerges as a carbon-neutral alternative to conventional fossil fuel-based energy systems. The catalyst’s dual Cu2+/Ni2+ active sites facilitate selective C–O bond cleavage, achieving more than 80% methanol conversion at temperatures exceeding 280 °C without the need for fossil methane inputs. Crucially, CO2 gasification enables catalyst regeneration through the conversion of 90% carbon deposits into reusable media, circumventing energy-intensive combustion processes. This dual-function system couples carbon capture to hydrogen infrastructure, thereby stabilizing production while valorizing waste CO2. This innovation minimizes reliance on rare metals through efficient regeneration cycles, mitigating resource constraints during energy crises. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Gasification of Carbonaceous Materials for Sustainable Energy)
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15 pages, 1971 KB  
Article
The Potential of Apricot Tree Resin as a Viable Feedstock for High-Value Chemicals via Hydrothermal Gasification
by Dilek Selvi Gökkaya
Catalysts 2025, 15(5), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15050425 - 27 Apr 2025
Viewed by 994
Abstract
This study investigates the hydrothermal gasification (HTG) of apricot tree resin, focusing on the yield and chemical composition of the resulting gas and aqueous phases. K2CO3 and KOH were used as catalysts within a temperature range of 300–600 °C, with [...] Read more.
This study investigates the hydrothermal gasification (HTG) of apricot tree resin, focusing on the yield and chemical composition of the resulting gas and aqueous phases. K2CO3 and KOH were used as catalysts within a temperature range of 300–600 °C, with a constant reaction time of 60 min. The results show that temperature and catalyst choice significantly influence gas yield, liquid composition, and solid residue formation. Higher temperatures increased the gas yield while decreasing aqueous and solid residues. The catalytic effect of K2CO3 and KOH enhanced the gaseous product conversion, with KOH achieving the highest gas yield and lowest residue formation at 600 °C. Among the liquid-phase compounds, carboxylic acids and 5-methyl furfural were the most abundant, reaching peak concentrations at 300 °C in the presence of K2CO3. The addition of alkali catalysts reduced key acidic intermediates such as glycolic, acetic, and formic acids. The inverse relationship between temperature and liquid/solid product formation underscores the importance of optimizing reaction conditions for efficient biomass conversion. These findings contribute to the growing field of biomass valorization by highlighting the potential of underutilized tree resins in sustainable biofuel production, advancing knowledge in renewable hydrogen production, and supporting the broader development of bio-based energy solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Gasification of Carbonaceous Materials for Sustainable Energy)
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