Boreskov Institute of Catalysis of the Siberian Branch of Russian ...

OP-IV-6A home-made copper dispersed on γ-alumina catalysthas been used. Details on catalyst preparation andcharacterization are reported elsewhere [7]. The Tablereports its main characteristics.The effects of both superficial gas velocity andamount of catalyst, i.e. contact time, as well as of reactiontemperature, CH 4 inlet concentration and catalyst particlesize on CH 4 to H 2 conversion, amount of carbonaccumulated on the catalyst and deactivation time havebeen investigated. The fate of carbon produced duringthese CH 4 decomposition tests carried out in a FBR hasFigure. Experimental apparatus.been analyzed in order to evaluate the necessityTable. Catalyst properties.Surface spinel of a catalyst regeneration stage on the basis ofActive phaseCuAl 2 O 4Copper content (%wt) 8.4 effectiveness of attrition to remove carbonSurface area (m 2 /g) 156deposited on the external surface of catalyticActivation energy (kJ/mol) 155Frequency factor (cm 3 /g/s) 1.8⋅10 8particles.Samples of bed catalytic particles after TCD tests and elutriated fines have beencharacterized by means of different techniques: i) elemental analysis to obtain the amount ofcarbon deposited on the catalyst and that elutriated in the exit gas; ii) SEM/EDS analysis todetermine the morphology of carbon deposited on the catalyst surface; iii) BET analysis toobtain the surface areas of deactivated catalyst.Experimental results have been used to highlight the relative role and relevance ofelementary processes concurring during TCD of methane in FBRs (CH 4 catalyticdecomposition, catalyst deactivation due to carbon deposition and catalyst reactivation bymeans of carbon attrition) as well as to individuate the more favourable operating conditionsto maximize CH 4 conversion to H 2 .References1. Muradov N., Smith F., Huang C., T-Raissi A. Catal Today 116 (2006) 281-288.2. Lee K. K., Han G. Y., Yoon K. J., Lee B. K. Catal Today 93-95 (2004) 81-86.3. Muradov N., Chen Z., Smith F. Int J Hydrogen Energ 30 (2005) 1149-1158.4. Dunker A. M., Kumar S., Mulawa P. A. Int J Hydrogen Energ 31 (2006) 473-484.5. Shah N., Ma S., Wang Y., Huffman G. P. Int J Hydrogen Energ 32 (2007) 3315-3319.6. Ogihara H., Takenaka S., Yamanaka I., Tanabe E., Genseki A., Otsuka K. J Catal 238 (2006) 353-360.7. Ammendola P., Chirone R., Lisi L.,Ruoppolo G., Russo G. J Mol Catal A-Chem 266 (2007) 31-39.151