Active and Stable Ni-MgO Catalyst Coated on a Metal Monolith for Methane Steam Reforming under Low Steam-to-Carbon Ratios

• Published in: Chemical engineering & technology 2012-12, Vol.35 (12), p.2195-2203
• Main Authors: de Miguel, N., Manzanedo, J., Arias, P. L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Catalysis; Catalytic reactions; Chemical engineering; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Metallic monolith; Nanoscale particle size; Ni-MgO catalyst; Reactors; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry
• ISSN: 0930-7516; 1521-4125
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.201200259

A structured reaction system in the form of an Ni‐MgO catalyst reduced to nanoscale particle size and coated on a metallic monolith proved to be an active and stable system for methane steam reforming under a steam‐to‐carbon ratio of 1.5 and a temperature of 700 °C. The catalyst‐coated monolith exhibited higher stability and much higher CH4 conversion than the same catalyst in a catalyst particle bed reaction system. The high activity is attributed to the properties of the metal monolith and to the small size of the catalyst particles on the coating, while the stability is ascribed to the NiO‐MgO solid solution formed in the Ni‐MgO catalyst. These results are better than the corresponding ones obtained with a conventional Ni‐Al2O3 catalyst reported previously [1] and comparable to the ones presented in the literature, with the advantage of working under a low steam‐to‐carbon ratio. Ni‐MgO is a promising catalyst for methane steam reforming due to the high stability of the NiO‐MgO solid solution formed in this catalyst. The high activity and stability of the catalyst coated on a metallic monolith are demonstrated for methane steam reforming working at 700 °C and a steam‐to‐carbon ratio as low as 1.5, thus enabling more energy‐efficient reforming processes for hydrogen production.