Abstract

Abstract In order to promote syngas yield and reduce carbon emission, Ni loaded ZrO 2 (Ni/ZrO 2 ) catalysts were prepared for the co‐pyrolysis of cypress sawdust and green algae in a two stage fixed bed reactor. The syngas yield, syngas component, and carbon emission were investigated. The results showed that Ni/ZrO 2 catalyst could obviously increase the combustible gas component in syngas. H 2 content was increased from 7.5% (single component) and 8.12% (co‐pyrolysis) to 16.56% (catalytic pyrolysis). CO content was also increased from 19.62% (single component) and 19.46% (co‐pyrolysis) to 25.94% (catalytic pyrolysis). However the catalyst had a little effect on the syngas yield compared with single component pyrolysis and co‐pyrolysis. The pyrolysis temperature could make great influence on the carbon emission. The carbon emission reduction was increased from 33.32 to 234.25 g CO 2 and from 105.94 to 369.23 g CO 2 , respectively for green algae and cypress sawdust.