Kinetics of Carbon Dioxide Reforming of Natural Gas Using Different Catalysts

Abstract

The Kinetics of CO₂ reforming of natural gas to produce synthesis gas (CO + H₂) has been investigated using 2 g of 0.5% wt of each of the catalysts; rhodium, ruthenium and iridium supported on γ-alumina. The experiments were carried out in a tubular reactor at three temperature levels namely 600, 700, 800°C and four gas weight hourly space velocities; 18000, 36000, 45000, and 60000 ml g⁻¹ h⁻¹. The reaction was found to obey first-order kinetics for the depletion of both of the reacting components; CH₄ and CO₂ on all the investigated catalysts. At the same temperature, CO₂ had a higher reaction rate constant, k', as compared to CH₄ for all the catalysts. This was more pronounced for Rh/γ-alumina catalyst, which occupied the highest reaction rates. Activation Energies were calculated from the Arrhenius relation.

Keywords:

• CO₂ reforming
• iridium supported catalyst
• natural gas
• reforming kinetics
• rhodium supported catalyst
• ruthenium supported catalyst and synthesis gas