Kinetic Rate Comparison of Methane Catalytic Combustion of Palladium Catalysts Impregnated onto γ-Alumina and Bio-Char

Authors: Noor S. Nasri, Eric C. A. Tatt, Usman D. Hamza, Jibril Mohammed, Husna M. Zain

Abstract:

Catalytic combustion of methane is imperative due to stability of methane at low temperature. Methane (CH4), therefore, remains unconverted in vehicle exhausts thereby causing greenhouse gas GHG emission problem. In this study, heterogeneous catalysts of palladium with bio-char (2 wt% Pd/Bc) and Al2O3 (2wt% Pd/ Al2O3) supports were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation and then subsequently tested for catalytic combustion of CH4. Support-porous heterogeneous catalytic combustion (HCC) material were selected based on factors such as surface area, porosity, thermal stability, thermal conductivity, reactivity with reactants or products, chemical stability, catalytic activity, and catalyst life. Sustainable and renewable support-material of bio-mass char derived from palm shell waste material was compared with those from the conventional support-porous materials. Kinetic rate of reaction was determined for combustion of methane on Palladium (Pd) based catalyst with Al2O3 support and bio-char (Bc). Material characterization was done using TGA, SEM, and BET surface area. The performance test was accomplished using tubular quartz reactor with gas mixture ratio of 3% methane and 97% air. The methane porous-HCC conversion was carried out using online gas analyzer connected to the reactor that performed porous-HCC. BET surface area for prepared 2 wt% Pd/Bc is smaller than prepared 2wt% Pd/ Al2O3 due to its low porosity between particles. The order of catalyst activity based on kinetic rate on reaction of catalysts in low temperature was 2wt% Pd/Bc>calcined 2wt% Pd/ Al2O3> 2wt% Pd/ Al2O3>calcined 2wt% Pd/Bc. Hence agro waste material can successfully be utilized as an inexpensive catalyst support material for enhanced CH4 catalytic combustion.

Keywords: Catalytic-combustion, Environmental, Support-bio-char material, Sustainable, Renewable material.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1100282

References:

[1] IPCC, “Summary for Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis”. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2007.
[2] T. Philippe T. Catalytic Combustion of Methane. Doctor Philosophy, Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan, Stockholm. 2002..
[3] G. Guoqing, K. Kusakabe, M. Taneda, M. Uehara and H. Maeda. J. Chem. Eng. 144: 270-276. 2008.
[4] X. H. Wang, G. Z. Guo, Y. Lu, L. Z. Hu, Y.L. Jiang, Z. Guo, and G. Zhang. Catal. Today, 126:369–374. 2007.
[5] A. M. Fadzil and U. A. M. Hakimi. Utilization of biomass residues for optimization of municipal solid waste combustion, Proceedings of the Advances in Malaysian Energy Research, pp. 9–16. 2004.
[6] J. Lehmann, S. Joseph. Biochar for environmental management. Washinto, Earthscan. 2009.
[7] M. Gurratha, T. Kuretzkya, H. P. Boehm, L. B. Okhlopkova, A.S. Lisitsyn, V. A. Likholobov. Carbon. 38:1241-1255. 2000.
[8] E. Koichi and A. Hiromichi. Appl. Catal. A. 222, 359–367. 2001.
[9] O. Demoulin, G. Rupprechter, I. Seunier, B. Le Clef, M. Navez, and P. Ruiz. J. Phys. Chem. B. 109, 20454-20462. 2005.
[10] N.S. Nasri and A. Abdul Kadir. Carbon Dioxide Adsorption and Desorption on Pre-treated Hydrophilic Property on Sustainable Pyrolysis Material of Bio-solid Waste, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. 2012.
[11] N. S. Nasri, J. M. Jones, V. A. Dupont, and A. Williams. A Comparative Study of Sulfur Poisoning and Regeneration of Precious-Metal Catalysts. Energy & Fuels. 12(6), 1130-1134. 1998.
[12] Z. Khan, S. Yusupand M. M. Ahmad. Thermogravimetric Analysis of Palm Oil Wastes Decomposition. 2011 Ieee First Conference On Clean Energy And Technology Cet. 27-29 June. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: IEEE, 205-208. 2011.
[13] O. Demoulin, G. Rupprechter, I. Seunier, B. Le Clef, M. Navezand P. Ruiz. Investigation of Parameters Influencing the Activation of a Pd/Γ- Alumina Catalyst during Methane Combustion. J. Phys. Chem. 109, 20454-20462. 2005.
[14] F. Rodriguez-Reinosoand M. M. Sabio. Textural and Chemical Characterization of Microporous Carbons. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science. 76-77, 271-294. 1998.
[15] Y. Chin and D.E. Resasco. Catalytic Oxidation of Methane on Supported Palladium under Lean Conditions: Kinetics, Structure and Properties. Catalysis. 14, 1-39. 1999.