CATALYSTS
Figure 4 - SER performance of C & CS # 1050 mixed with a CaO-based CO 2 sorbent in a laboratory-scale fluidised bed reactor operated in batch mode
Under SER conditions , a distinctly higher catalytic activity and a higher long-term stability have been obtained with C & CS # 1050 compared to a crushed and sieved commercial steam-reforming catalyst . Moreover , under these conditions , C & CS # 1050 can also be operated at an approximately 250 – 300 ° C lower operating temperature .
A high ( 94-96 mol % ( dry basis )) hydrogen concentration was obtained under SER conditions by using a CaO-containing CO 2 sorbent mixed with the novel catalyst in fluidised bed batch operation in a laboratory-scale test rig ( Figure 4 ).
Due to the special grain structure of the mixed magnesium-aluminium oxide support material , both a high attrition resistance and high chemical and thermal stability were achieved . This allowed SER with subsequent regeneration in multi-cycling fluidised bed operation .
Transfer to manufacturing
The BET surface area examination of C & CS # 1050 prepared at laboratoryscale , 5 kg scale and 50 kg scale shows that comparable surface areas were obtained after the two scaling steps . In an appropriate XRD analysis of these samples , congruent spectra were recorded ( not shown here ).
Following a 5 kg batch production at C & CS , 50 kg of the new catalyst have been produced for a planned demonstration test campaign at the IFE-Hynor Hydrogen Technology Centre in Norway . To increase the batch amount to > 50 kg , first activities with a toll manufacturer have already been initiated .
Further potential applications
Beside the SER process , the patented catalyst can also be used in fluidisedbed steam-reforming without the use of a CO 2 sorbent .
In addition , the catalyst may also be used in catalytic filter elements , where it can be integrated in the annular space of a hot gas filter candle . 6 , 7 These filter elements can be used in catalytic tar reforming in biomass gasification processes to eliminate gaseous tar compounds in the syngas that are formed as undesirable side products .
In this way , the downstream equipment would be protected against pipe blocking by condensable tar compounds . At the same time , the syngas yield would be increased by steam-reforming of the compounds . Because of the far higher catalyst surface area of C & CS # 1050 compared to the integrated nickel steam-reforming catalysts in these catalytic filter candles of fixed bed design that were developed by use of a commercially available support material , distinctly higher tar conversions should be expected by using C & CS # 1050 .
This could enlarge the applicability of catalytic filter elements for hot gas cleaning of biomass gasification gas with higher tar content or would allow operating of the catalytic filter candles at a lower filtration temperature . Moreover , the high thermal stability of C & CS # 1050 could be exploited in examining the regenerability of the catalyst under hot gas filtration conditions with respect to stable long-term operation of hot gas cleaning of biomass-derived syngas . ●
Acknowledgement : The MEMBER project has received funding from the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 760944
References 1 : L . Barelli , G . Bidini , F . Gallorini & S . Servili , Energy . 2008 . 33 , 554-570 2 : J . Meyer , J Mastin & C . S . Pinilla , Energy Procedia 2014 . 63 , 6800-6814 3 : CE Project MEMBER No . 760944 , https :// member-co2 . com 4 : M . Nacken , EP 3805149 B1 , 20 April 2022 5 : L . Lloyd , Handbook of Industrial Catalysts Fundamental & Applied Catalysis , Springer Science + Business Media , 2011 6 : S . Rapagnà , K . Gallucci , M . Di Marcello , M . Matt , M . Nacken , S . Heidenreich & P . U . Foscolo , Bioresource Technology . 2010 . 101 , 7123-7130 7 : F . García-Labiano , P . Gayán , L . F . de Diego , A . Abad , T . Mendiara , J . Adánez , M . Nacken & S . Heidenreich , Applied Catalysis B : Environmental . 2016 , 188 , 198-206
Dr Manfred Nacken
C & CS CATALYSTS & CHEMICAL SPECIALTIES GMBH
k + 49 8106 235 9893 J manfred . nacken @ candcs . de j www . candcs . de
16 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981