Enhancement of catalytic performance of porous membrane reactor with Ni catalyst for combined steam and carbon dioxide reforming of methane reaction

• Published in: Fuel processing technology 2019-06, Vol.188, p.197-202
• Main Authors: Lee, Sang Moon, Hwang, In Hyuck, Kim, Sung Su
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Al2O3; Aluminum oxide; Carbon dioxide; Carbon monoxide; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Catalytic converters; Membrane; Membrane reactors; Methane; Reforming; Scanning electron microscopy; Thermogravimetric analysis
• ISSN: 0378-3820; 1873-7188
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuproc.2019.02.023

The reaction characteristics of combined steam and carbon dioxide reforming of methane (CSCRM) were examined using a Ni/Al2O3 catalyst for the gas-to-liquid (GTL) process. The concentrations of the products (outlet H2 and CO) were affected by the concentrations of the reactants (CH4, H2O, and CO2) in the feed, which also influenced the catalyst activity based on the quantity of carbon deposited on the catalyst surface. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the quantity rather than the type of carbon deposited differed under each reaction condition. It was found that the Ni/Al2O3 catalyst combined with porous membrane reactor can efficiently enhance the catalytic activity, where the methane conversion reached 96% with outlet H2/CO ratio of 2.1 at 800 °C (CH4/H2O/CO2 = 1/0.75/0.25) and gas hourly space velocity of 15,600 h−1 under 2 atm. •Ni/Al2O3 catalyst combined with porous membrane reactor was prepared.•Catalytic activity was affected by space velocity and inlet gas composition.•Ideal selectivities of porous membrane were in the order of H2/CO > H2/CO2 > H2/CH4.•Catalytic membrane showed the superior CH4 conversion (~96%) at 800 °C.