Consecutive methane oxidation and CO2 reforming conducted in a Pd-Ag alloy membrane reactor to produce ultrapure H2

CARLOS CARRARA, JOHN MÚNERA, LAURA M. CORNAGLIA, EDUARDO A. LOMBARDO

Lyon-Francia

Conferencia; 9th international conference on catalysis in membrane reactors; 2009

The combination of reforming (steam and dry) and oxidation of methane is currently being studied in conventional reactors to improve the energy balance in the production of H2. The hydrogen yield and its purity can be greatly enhanced using a membrane reactor. However, the development of hot-spots at the feed inlet can damage the membrane alloy. Maybe this explains the paucity of publications regarding the use of membrane reactors for combined methane reforming. In this work, an adequate design of the catalytic bed allows to fully realize the potential of the combined oxidation –reforming of methane in a membrane reactor,   using the well proven Rh(0.6)/La2O3(27)-SiO2 catalyst.The addition of O2 to the reactant mixture (CO2/CH4) significantly improves the methane conversion, the H2/CO ratio and the H2 recovery in the membrane reactor. The appropriate design of the catalytic bed inhibits the catalyst deactivation by thermal effects generated during the methane oxidation. Besides, the membrane maintains 100% H2 selectivity after more than 200 hours on stream.