Combustion of methane–hydrogen mixtures on catalytic tablets

Catalytic micro-combustors have been developed via deposition of active layers of Pt/γ-Al2O3, LaMnO3/γ-Al2O3 and Pt-LaMnO3/γ-Al2O3 on FeCralloy and α-Al2O3 slabs. Diffusional resistance in the gas phase have been experimental excluded, even if catalyst is present on only one side of the reactor. Pt/γ-Al2O3 gave best performances in the combustion of H2 while LaMnO3/γ-Al2O3 revealed to be the best catalyst for methane combustion. The mixture Pt–LaMnO3 supported on γ-Al2O3 showed intermediate properties for both fuels.The combustion of H2–CH4 mixtures showed that the presence of hydrogen promotes the oxidation of methane, since above 700 °C radical reactions involving CH4 are activated by H2 ignition.