Conversion of methane on catalysts, obtained by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis

Abstract

The block-metal catalysts for the selective oxidation of methane were prepared by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) using powder NiO, ZrO2, MgO, Al, Ni, and others. Catalytic tests of block samples were conducted in a flow reactor in a mixture of methane (29,6 %vol.) and air at 800 °C. It is shown that SH  catalysts reach the level of platinum and platinum-rhodium
catalysts in yield of a synthesis-gas (the total concentration of CO + H2), and in the case of Ni52,9ZrO29,5 composition the catalyst samples exceed platinum and platinum-rhodium catalysts. The experimental autothermal synthesis-gas generator with capacity of 30 m3/h is designed using a catalyst composition Ni52,9ZrO29,5. The process of synthesis-gas production by the carbon dioxide reforming of methane was carried out on powder of SHS catalysts Ni3Al, modified by Pt. The samples testing behavior were studied in a flow reactor with a fixed catalyst bed volume is 1 cm3, 600–1000 micron grain size at temperatures of 600–900 °C, flow rate (СН4 : СО2 : Не = 20 : 20 : 60 %vol.) 100 cm3/min. А high activity and stability of the developed catalysts in the conversion of natural gas to synthesis-gas are shown in a high-temperature oxidation-reduction environment.
That work is the first step on the way of producing dimethyl ether, which can be a real competitor to diesel.