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.