Hydrogen production by partial oxidation of methane over Co based, Ni and Ru monolithic catalysts

•Catalytic partial oxidation of CH4 was performed to produce hydrogen rich gas.•Monolithic catalysts were prepared via modified sol-gel impregnation.•Optimum reaction temperature was found to be as 800 °C based on performance tests.•H2 production efficiency of Co–Ni–Ru oxide was calculated as 95.89% at 850 °C.

Fossil fuels which supply most of the world energy demand are depletable, and they cause greenhouse gas emissions which eventually lead to global warming and climate change. Hydrogen, a clean and versatile energy carrier, can be converted into useful forms of energy in several ways. Catalytic partial oxidation of methane is a very promising process for hydrogen and synthesis gas production, besides steam reforming of methane, the leading technology. In the present work, catalysts for partial oxidation of methane have been developed and studied in terms of structural properties and chemical performance. For this purpose Co, Co–Ni, Co–Ru, Co–Ni–Ru, and Ni catalysts loaded onto cordierite ceramic monolithic supports were prepared via modified sol-gel-impregnation method. The catalysts were characterized by, SEM-EDS, XRD, BET, and ICP-OES techniques. Activity tests of the catalysts were performed in a tubular reactor at 450 ml/min total flow rate from 600 °C to 850 °C. Co–Ni–Ru was the most successful catalyst, with selectivity values of 93.10% H2 and 93.81% CO, and CH4 conversion of 98.71%, and hydrogen production efficiency of 95.89% at 850 °C. During the activity tests of this catalyst 2.13% CO2 was present in the product stream.

Graphical abstractMethane conversion rates (%) of partial oxidation of methane over monolithic catalysts with oxides of Co, Co–Ni, Co–Ru, Co–Ni–Ru and Ni for hydrogen production.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide