Sustainable Materials for Biomass Gasification: Enhancing Syngas Quality through Catalytic and Green Innovation

Abstract:

The global challenges of energy security and climate change highlight the urgent need for renewable energy technologies. Biomass gasification offers a promising thermochemical route for converting organic feedstocks into synthesis gas (syngas), which can serve as a clean fuel or chemical precursor. Despite its potential, large-scale application is constrained by low carbon conversion efficiency, excessive tar formation, unstable syngas composition, and catalyst deactivation. This study applies a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) guided by PRISMA 2020 to examine advances in sustainable catalytic and sorbent materials for improving syngas quality. Literature was retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar (2015–2025), focusing on experimental and simulation-based studies. Results indicate that eco-friendly catalysts such as Ni–Ce/CaO composites, multifunctional Ni/CaO–Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃, lanthanum-promoted Ni–Al₂O₃, red mud, biochar, zeolites, and CaO-based sorbents enhance hydrogen yield, reduce CO₂, and mitigate tar formation. Multifunctional materials combining catalytic and adsorptive properties, particularly in sorption-enhanced gasification, show strong potential but still face challenges of sintering, deactivation, and reactor-dependent variability. Beyond efficiency gains, sustainable catalysts contribute to circular economy principles by valorizing wastes and biomass residues. Future priorities include nanostructured catalyst design, reactor–catalyst integration, techno-economic feasibility, and life cycle assessment to enable industrial-scale deployment.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 1194)
• Pages: 107-114
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-ihA3DE
• Online since: June 2026
• Authors: Afif Faishal*, Muhammad Fadhlan, Muhammad Soffin Arfian
• Keywords: Biomass, Gasification, Green Catalyst, Materials, Sustainable, Syngas

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