Calcium oxide and potassium hydroxide catalysed low temperature methane production from graphite and water Comparison of catalytic mechanisms

Abstract

An experimental study was carried out to obtain information on the catalytic mechanisms involved in the methanation of graphite using, separately, potassium and calcium as catalysts, and water and/or hydrogen as reactants. The mechanisms for the potassium-catalysed graphite—water reaction appear to be the same in the wide temperature range from 473 to 873 K as indicated by the constant activation energy, 46 kJ mol −1, found for methane production. The intercalation of potassium into the graphite as a possible step in the methane synthesis has been investigated and ruled out. XPS studies indicate the formation of an active form of more positively charged carbon from graphite when graphite is heated at low temperature in the presence of a calcium catalyst and water vapour. The activation energy for this carbon depolymerization reaction is 68.1 kJ mol −1. Methane formation occurs only in the presence of hydrogen due to its reaction with the active carbon with an activation energy of 106.6 kJ mol −1.