Partial Oxidation of Methane (POM) on perovskites

Abstract

Partial oxidation of methane is a less energy consuming alternative to the highly endothermic steam reforming process to obtain synthesis gas from natural gas. The perovskites LaNiO3, LaCoO3, LaFeO3, LaMnO3 and mixed nickel-cobalt perovskites are tested and the exsolution process responsible for forming the active metal or metal oxide species on the surface investigated with TPR and XRD. Additionally, BET and SEM have been applied to analyse the structure. Nickel supported on lanthanum oxide and cerium oxide were also tested for comparison. In-situ XRD measurements were carried out to investigate the formation and destruction of phases during increase of the temperature, exsolution and reaction. It is shown that the lanthanum nickel oxide catalyst has the best performance and has to states of activity, with a high selectivity two either hydrogen and carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide and water, corresponding to nickel and nickel oxide,respectively, as active phase. In the case of nickel supported on cerium oxide oscillations between these two stats have been observed.