The development of highly active, durable, tar decomposition catalysts is desirable for practical application of biomass gasification at low temperature. In this study, limonite ore calcinated at 900 degrees C was used as bed material in a fluidized bed for catalytic decomposition of phenol (biomass tar model) at 650 degrees C. The limonite showed catalytic activity for the decomposition of phenol to produce combustible gases (H-2 and CO). A long-term durability test of phenol decomposition with O-2 regeneration treatment was conducted for 25 h using the limonite catalyst. The O-2 treatment repeatedly removed the deposited carbon, allowing H-2 and CO to be generated constantly for 25 h. Steam reforming of phenol using the limonite catalyst was also conducted with various steam/carbon ratios (S/C = 0, 0.4, and 0.8), of which S/C = 0.4 was the best for suppressing carbon deposition and producing higher volumes of H-2 and CO gases. Continuous steam reforming for 24 h could be achieved using a limonite catalyst with S/C = 0.4, while maintaining the production of H-2 and CO gases, even though carbon deposition occurred steadily. These results indicated that limonite ore is a promising bed material for use in internally circulating fluidized-bed systems for long-term catalytic decomposition of biomass tar. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.