A study on the ignition process for the catalytic partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas by MS-TPSR technique

Abstract

The ignition processes for the catalytic partial oxidation of methane (POM) to synthesis gas over oxidic nickel catalyst (NiO/Al2O3), reduced nickel catalyst (Ni0/Al2O3), and Pt-promoted oxidic nickel catalyst (Pt–NiO/Al2O3) were studied by the temperature-programmed surface reaction (TPSR) technique. The complete oxidation of methane usually took place on the NiO catalyst during the CH4/O2 reaction, even with a pre-reduced nickel catalyst, and Ni0 is inevitably first oxidized to NiO if the temperature is below the ignition temperature. It is above a certain temperature that Ni0 is formed again, which leads to the start of the POM. The POM can be initiated at a much lower temperature on a Pt–NiO catalyst because of Pt promotion of the reduction of NiO. The POM in a fluidized bed can be easily initiated due to the addition of Pt.