Study of the performance of Mo2C for iso-octane steam reforming

✍ Scribed by Oscar G. Marin Flores; Su Ha

• Book ID: 104010007
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 990 KB
• Volume: 136
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0920-5861
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2008.02.004

✦ Synopsis

In the present work, the performance of commercial molybdenum carbide (Mo 2 C) for isooctane steam reforming has been investigated in order to determine the effects of major operating parameters (temperature, space velocity, and steam to carbon ratio) on the catalytic activity. While the results obtained indicate an onset reforming temperature of 850 8C, high concentrations of H 2 in the reforming environment were found to reduce the onset temperature to 750 8C. The catalytic activity at 850 8C was sufficient to produce hydrogen yields greater than 90% and carbon conversions close to 100%, with a low selectivity to CH 4 and CO 2 . In addition, and consistent with thermodynamic predictions, a steam to carbon ratio of 1 appeared to optimize the reforming rates. Finally, based on experimental observations, a reaction mechanism was formulated and used to interpret the results obtained during catalytic activity measurements. This mechanism involves continuous oxidation and reduction of Mo metal, which can provide activity and stability to the catalyst when occurring at similar rates.