Methane Steam Reforming Kinetics for a Rhodium-Based Catalyst

Abstract

Methane steam reforming is the key reaction to produce synthesis gas and hydrogen at the industrial scale. Here the kinetics of methane steam reforming over a rhodium-based catalyst is investigated in the temperature range 500–800 °C and as a function of CH4, H2O and H2 partial pressures. The methane steam reforming reaction cannot be modeled without taking CO and H coverages into account. This is especially important at low temperatures and higher partial pressures of CO and H2. For methane CO2 reforming experiments, it is also necessary to consider the repulsive interaction of CO that lowers the adsorption energy at high CO coverage. The CO–CO interaction is supported by comparison with fundamental surface science studies. Experimental results (points), Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic modeling (lines) and descriptive power law constants for the methane dependency in the methane steam reforming reaction on a Rh catalyst.