Structured catalyst used in gas chromatography for carbon oxides methanation

Abstract

Carbon oxides concentrations are monitored in many industrial plants, and gas chromatographs (GC) have a significant space to quantify those compounds. Commercial GC methanizers are usually packaged with a Ni-based catalyst powder (CAT C), and GC specifications limit the operational temperature. The present work created a structured catalytic cartridge as an alternative to the standard powder bed methanizers. Comparing the catalytic activities and methane selectivity between synthesized and commercial catalysts showed that CAT S performed much better than CAT C. The evaluation of the mass of CAT S necessary for the washcoating process on the substrate, showed that 100 mg is sufficient to keep high conversions and selectivity of the carbon oxides to methane. The CAT S catalyst was deposited on FeCrAlloy metal foams of different porosities (40 and 60 ppi), and the coating process proved to be homogeneous, efficient and reproducible. The catalytic tests of 60 ppi structured catalyst (CAT S E60) showed better activity, when compared with CAT C and 40 ppi (CAT S E40), indicating the CAT S E60 is an natural substitute for commercial GC methanizer, due to its catalytic and chromatograph performance.