Catalytic methane pyrolysis in molten MnCl2-KCl

Methane decomposition to produce molecular hydrogen and solid carbon was catalyzed by contact with molten KCl:MnCl2 mixtures in a bubble column reactor from 700 to 1050 °C. The apparent activation energy decreased from approximately 300 kJ/mole for pure KCl to 161 kJ/mole in a 67:33 mol % mixture of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inApplied catalysis. B, Environmental Vol. 254
Main Authors Kang, Dohyung, Rahimi, Nazanin, Gordon, Michael J., Metiu, Horia, McFarland, Eric W.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Elsevier 07.05.2019
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Summary:Methane decomposition to produce molecular hydrogen and solid carbon was catalyzed by contact with molten KCl:MnCl2 mixtures in a bubble column reactor from 700 to 1050 °C. The apparent activation energy decreased from approximately 300 kJ/mole for pure KCl to 161 kJ/mole in a 67:33 mol % mixture of KCl:MnCl2. At 30% methane conversion, pyrolysis in the KCl:MnCl2 melt at 1050 °C had high hydrogen selectivity (˜99%) in comparison to pure molten KCl (˜90%), which was observed to produce multiple hydrocarbon co-products. The pyrolysis activity of the KCl:MnCl2 melt remained stable for over 30 h and produced a separable, highly graphitic carbon solid that accumulated at the surface of the higher-density salt melt.
Bibliography:USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
FG03-89ER14048
ISSN:0926-3373
1873-3883