The behavior of the different catalysts for model carbon hydrogasification

Abstract

The catalytic hydrogasification of activated carbon/bituminous char/anthracite char with the different catalysts were performed in a pressurized thermogravimetry analysis (PTGA). The GC, BET were used to characterize the physical structure and chemical reaction process ofcarbon. The function principle of Co to the carbon-hydrogen reaction was preliminarily obtained. The results showed that the catalytic activity of transition metals (Fe, Co, Ni) was significantly better than that of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals during the process of activated carbon hydrogasification. There were two catalytic zones of low temperature (600–750°C) and high temperature (> 800°C) in the catalytic process. The emergence of the low temperature catalytic zone could be attributed to the interaction between the transition metal oxides and carbon. The transition metal was embedded in carbon layer structure during the activated carbon hydrogasification, then parts of carbon structure was activated, resulting in the cleavage of carbon-carbon bonds. The adequate active hydrogen could be supplied by Co at 850°C when the pressure was beyond 1 MPa. Briefly, the reaction temperature was the crucial factor for the cleavage of carbon-carbon bonds. The model carbon with higher specific surface area and weaker carbon structure could be converted efficiently even with lower loading amount of catalyst.