Title

Autothermal catalytic pyrolysis of methane as a new route to hydrogen production with reduced CO2 emissions

Authors

Authors

N. Muradov; F. Smith; C. Huang;A. T-Raissi

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

Catal. Today

Keywords

hydrogen; carbon; methane; catalyst; autothermal pyrolysis; ACTIVATED CARBONS; DECOMPOSITION; DECARBONIZATION; FUEL; Chemistry, Applied; Chemistry, Physical; Engineering, Chemical

Abstract

Hydrogen production plants are among major sources of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. The objective of this paper is to explore new routes to hydrogen production from natural gas (or methane) with drastically reduced CO2 emissions. One approach analyzed in this paper is based on thermocatalytic decomposition (or pyrolysis) of methane into hydrogen gas and elemental carbon over carbon-based catalysts. Several heat input options to the endothermic process are discussed in the paper. The authors conduct thermodynamic analysis of methane decomposition in the presence of small amounts of oxygen in an autothermal (or thermo-neutral) regime using AspenPlus(TM) chemical process simulator. Methane conversion, products yield, effluent gas composition, process enthalpy flows as a function of temperature, pressure and O-2/CH4 ratio has been determined. CO2 emissions (per m(3) of H-2 produced) from the process could potentially be a factor of 3-5 less than from conventional hydrogen production processes. Oxygen-assisted decomposition of methane over activated carbon (AC) and AC-supported iron catalysts over wide range of temperatures and O-2/CH4 ratios was experimentally verified. Problems associated with the catalyst deactivation and the effect of iron doping on the catalyst stability are discussed. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Journal Title

Catalysis Today

Volume

116

Issue/Number

3

Publication Date

1-1-2006

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Language

English

First Page

281

Last Page

288

WOS Identifier

WOS:000240088600004

ISSN

0920-5861

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