Catalytic activity of coal ash on steam methane reforming and water-gas shift reactions

Abstract

The catalytic activity of Clarion 4A coal ash on water-gas shift, steam methane reforming and carbon dioxide methane reforming reactions was studied in an atmospheric fluidized bed over temperatures ranging from 370°C to 900°C. The rates of steam methane reforming and water-gas shift reactions over ash were found to be several times the corresponding non-catalytic reactions but were one order of magnitude lower than the reactions over commercial catalysts. Also, it was found that the ash affected the water-gas shift reaction more significantly than the steam methane reforming reaction probably because of the larger amount of iron oxide in the coal ash. However, there was no appreciable reaction for carbon dioxide reforming up to 900°C.