Steam Reforming of Methane and Its Mixtures with Propane in a Membrane Reactor with Industrial Nickel Catalyst and Palladium–Ruthenium Foil

• Published in: Petroleum chemistry Vol. 59; no. 4; pp. 394 - 404
• Main Authors: Didenko, L. P., Sementsova, L. A., Chizhov, P. E., Dorofeeva, T. V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01.04.2019; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alkanes; Alloys; Carbon dioxide; Catalysis; Catalysts; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Conversion; Costs (Law); Foils; Hydrocracking; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Membrane reactors; Methanation; Methane; Methanol; Nickel; Palladium; Palladium catalysts; Propane; Raw materials; Reforming; Ruthenium; Selectivity; Transition metals; Velocity; steam reforming; membrane reactor; methane/propane mixtures
• ISSN: 0965-5441; 1555-6239
• DOI: 10.1134/S0965544119040054

Steam reforming of methane and its mixtures containing 5 and 10% propane has been studied in a membrane reactor with an industrial nickel catalyst NIAP-03-01 and a membrane in the form of 30-μm foil made of a Pd–Ru alloy. At T = 823 K and a feed space velocity of 1800 h −1 , the almost complete methane conversion is achieved, the selectivity for CO 2 is more than 50%, and about 80% H 2 is recovered from the reaction mixture. High conversion of CH 4 in the membrane reactor under mild conditions allows the steam reforming of its mixtures with C 2+ alkanes to be conducted in a single process, as shown by the example of model mixtures containing C 3 H 8 . Under selected conditions ( T = 773 or 823 K, a feed space velocity of 1800 or 3600 h −1 , a steam/methane ratio of 3 or 5, atmospheric pressure), almost complete C 3 H 8 conversion is observed. The main “undesirable” reaction is methanation, leading to a decrease in the CH 4 conversion. In the system under study, CH 4 is formed with an increase in the feed space velocity. Methanation occurs as a result of C 3 H 8 hydrocracking at a steam/feedstock ratio = 3 or the hydrogenation of CO 2 as this ratio is increased to 5. The optimal conditions for steam reforming of methane mixtures containing up to 10% C 3 H 8 are T = 823 K, steam/feedstock ratio = 5, and the feed space velocity of 1800 h −1 . Under these conditions involving evacuation of the permeate, the feedstock conversion is complete, the selectivity for CO 2 is 50%, and more than 70% H 2 is recovered from the reaction mixture.