PURIFICATION AND CATALYTIC REFORMING OF METHANE ? A NEW INSIGHT INTO CARBON ADSORBENT AND MEIC MEMBRANE REACTOR

Abstract

Hydrogen is a clean energy carrier besides being an essential reducing reagent used in many chemical reactions. H2 has been effectively produced from natural gas (mainly methane) by catalytic steam reforming (SR). This PhD research project focuses on the two crucial topics about the effective use of natural gas: removing sulphur-containing compounds from it in order to assure a clean SR and integrating air separation with the partial oxidation of methane (POM), an exothermic process contrary to the strong endothermic SR. To explore the first objective, a special type of activated carbon (AC) containing predominant mesoporous structure has been attained from using hydroxyethyl cellulose. For the second objective, in pursuit of integrating air separation with POM, a tubular ceramic membrane composed of oxygen electrolyte and mixed electronic/ionic conductor (MEIC) was crafted. It manifested a desired trade-off between oxygen permeation and chemical endurance against syngas and methane caused structural deterioration.