SHORT CONTACT TIME CATALYTIC PARTIAL OXIDATION OF CH4-H2 MIX OVER Ni FOAMS (original) (raw)

The catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) of methane-hydrogen mixtures in air, intended for the first stage of hybrid radiant catalytic burners, was investigated under self-sustained short contact time conditions on commercial Ni foam catalysts eventually modified with Rh and Pt. The modified catalysts were prepared by a simple novel method based on the spontaneous deposition of noble metals via metal exchange reactions onto those Ni foam substrates. Modification with noble metals enhances stability and reducibility of the Ni foam whereas the overall CPO performance is not significantly improved. Safe operation of the CPO reactor with up to 70% vol. H 2 in the fuel mixture has been achieved by properly increasing the feed equivalence ratio to avoid catalyst overheating, while guaranteeing high methane conversions and a persistent net hydrogen production.