Kinetic behaviour of commercial catalysts for methane reforming in ethanol steam reforming process

Ethanol steam reforming has been studied in a fluidized bed （in order to ensure bed isothermicity） on commercial catalysts for methane reforming. The results allow analyzing the effect of temperature （in 300-700℃ range）, and both metal and support nature on the reaction indices （ethanol conversion, yields and selectivities to H2 and byproducts （CO2, CO, CH4 and C2H4O））. Special attention has been paid to catalysts＇ stability by comparing the evolution of the reaction indices with time on stream at 500°C （minimum CO formation） and 700℃ （minimum deactivation by coke deposition）. Although they provide a slightly lower H2 yield, the results evidence a good behaviour of Ni based catalysts, indicating that they are an interesting alternative of more expensive Rh based ones.

Development of a CO_2 Tolerant Fischer-Tropsch Catalyst:from Laboratory to Commercial-Sca1e Demonstration in Alaska

This article describes the development of BP's Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, used for the conversion of carbon monoxide and hydrogen into liquid hydrocarbons. It covers the 18 year period from the early eighties, when laboratory scale preparations and micro-reactors were heavily used, right through to the present day with the commercial scale manufacture and proving of the finished catalyst in BP's new ＄86 million gas to liquids demonstration facility in Nikiski, Alaska. Extensive performance testing and scale-up experiments have been successfully carried out, all proof that a laboratory preparation can indeed be translated into a commercial manufacturing process. In addition, the resulting catalyst does not only meet the process design targets, but also exhibits enhanced stability and is tolerant to carbon dioxide. Above all, a commercial scale, fixed bed Fischer-Tropsch catalyst is now available and ready for licensing. Manufacturing procedures and quality control have all been successfully detailed and transferred to the commercial manufacturer.

Silica Modulation of Raney Nickel Catalysts for Selective Hydrogenation

Selective hydrogenation over earth-abundant metal catalysts is challenging but particularly valuable for practical applications in heterogeneous catalysis.Herein,we demonstrate that the catalytic selectivity of the commercial Raney nickel catalyst can be greatly tuned by modulation of the nickel surface by silica.Using quinoline hydrogenation as a model,we show that the silica-modified Raney nickel catalysts exhibit good activity,excellent selectivity,and long stability,whereas the undesired over-hydrogenation reactions are effectively hindered.In contrast,the pristine Raney nickel catalyst shows inferior selectivity for the targeted product.Mechanistic studies confirm a positive role of silica to facilitate the desorption of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline from the catalyst surface,thus enhancing the product selectivity.