Produced Gas Conversion of Microwave Carbon Receptor Reforming

Authors: Young Nam Chun, Mun Sup Lim

Abstract:

Carbon dioxide and methane, the major components of biomass pyrolysis/gasification gas and biogas, top the list of substances that cause climate change, but they are also among the most important renewable energy sources in modern society. The purpose of this study is to convert carbon dioxide and methane into high-quality energy using char and commercial activated carbon obtained from biomass pyrolysis as a microwave receptor. The methane reforming process produces hydrogen and carbon. This carbon is deposited in the pores of the microwave receptor and lowers catalytic activity, thereby reducing the methane conversion rate. The deposited carbon was removed by carbon gasification due to the supply of carbon dioxide, which solved the problem of microwave receptor inactivity. In particular, the conversion rate remained stable at over 90% when the ratio of carbon dioxide to methane was 1:1. When the reforming results of carbon dioxide and methane were compared after fabricating nickel and iron catalysts using commercial activated carbon as a carrier, the conversion rate was higher in the iron catalyst than in the nickel catalyst and when no catalyst was used. 

Keywords: Microwave, gas reforming, greenhouse gas, microwave receptor, catalyst.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1315404

References:

[1] X. Tao, M. Bai, X. Li, H. Long, S. Shang, Y. Yin, and X. Dai, “CH4-CO2 reforming by plasma - challenges and opportunities,” Prog. Energy Combust. Sci., vol. 37, no. 2, pp. 113–124, Apr. 2011.
[2] P. Thanompongchart, and N. Tippayawong. “Progress in plasma assisted reforming of biogas for fuel gas upgrading,” American Journal of Scientific Research, vol. 76, pp. 70–87, Sep. 2012.
[3] J. Guo, H. Lou, H. Zhao, D. Chai, and X. Zheng, “Dry reforming of methane over nickel catalysts supported on magnesium aluminate spinels,” Appl. Catal. A-Gen., vol. 273, pp. 75-82, Oct. 2004.
[4] D. O. Christensen, P. L. Silveston, E. Croiset, and R. R. Hudgin, “Production of hydrogen from the noncatalytic partial oxidation of ethanol,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., vol. 43, pp. 2636–2642, Apr. 2004.
[5] M. Jasínski, M. Dors, and J. Mizeraczyk, “Production of hydrogen via methane reforming using atmospheric pressure microwave plasma,” J. Power Sources, vol. 181, pp. 41–45, Jun. 2013.
[6] A. H. Fakeeha, M. A. Naeem, W. U. Khan, and A. S. Al-Fatesh, “Syngas production via CO2 reforming of methane using Co–Sr–Al catalyst,” J. Ind. Eng. Chem., vol. 20, pp. 549–557, Mar. 2014.
[7] B. T. Li, X. J. Xu, and S. Y. Zhang, “Synthesis gas production in the combined CO2 reforming with partial oxidation of methane over Ce-promoted Ni/SiO2 catalysts,” Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, vol. 38, pp. 890–900, Jan. 2013.
[8] N. Muradov, F. Smith, and A. T-Raissi, “Catalytic activity of carbons for methane decomposition reaction,” Catal. Today, vol. 102-103, pp. 225–233, May. 2005.
[9] A. Domínguez, Y. Fernández, B. Fidalgo, J. J. Pis, and J. A. Menéndez, “Biogas to Syngas by Microwave-Assisted Dry Reforming in the Presence of Char,” Energy Fuels, vol. 21, pp. 2066–2071, Jun. 2007.
[10] B. Fidalgo, A. Domínguez, J. J. Pis, and J. A. Menéndez, “Microwave-assisted dry reforming of methane,” Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, vol. 33, pp. 4337–4344, Aug. 2008.
[11] B. R. Jeong, S. H. Yoon, and Y. N. Chun, “Energy conversion characteristics on microwave pyrolysis and gasification for a sewage sludge waste,” Journal of Korea Society of Waste Management, vol. 33, pp. 294-302, Apr. 2016.
[12] L. Li, H. Wang, X. Jiang, Z. Song, X. Zhao, and C. Ma, “Microwave-enhanced methane combined reforming by CO2 and H2O into syngas production on biomass-derived char,” Fuel, vol. 185, pp. 692-700, Dec. 2016.
[13] Z. Bai, H. Chen, W. Li, and B. Li, “Hydrogen production by methane decomposition over coal char,” Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, vol. 31, no.7, pp. 899-905, Jun. 2006.
[14] M. H. Kim, E. K. Lee, J. H. Jun, S. J. Kong, G. Y. Han, B. K. Lee, T. J. Lee, and K. J. Yoon, “Hydrogen production by catalytic decomposition of methane over activated carbons: kinetic study,” Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, vol. 29, pp. 187-193, Feb. 2004.
[15] E. K. Lee, S. Y. Lee, G. Y. Han, B. K. Lee, T. J. Lee, J. H. Jun, and K. J. Yoon, “Catalytic decomposition of methane over carbon blacks for CO2-free hydrogen production,” Carbon, vol. 42, pp. 2641-2648, Jul. 2004.
[16] H. H. Nguyen, A. Nasonova, I. W. Nah, and K. S. Kim, “Analysis on CO2 reforming of CH4 by corona discharge process for various process variables,” J. Ind. Eng. Chem., vol. 32, pp. 58-62, Aug. 2015.
[17] Q. Jing, H. Lou, J. Fei, Z. Hou, and X. Zheng, “Syngas production from reforming of methane with CO2 and O2 over Ni/SrO-SiO2 catalysts in a fluidized bed reactor,” Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, vol. 29, pp. 1245-1251, Sep. 2004.
[18] M. Rydén, and A. Lyngfelt, “Using steam reforming to produce hydrogen with carbon dioxide capture by chemical-looping combustion,” Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, vol. 31, pp. 1271-1283, Aug. 2006.
[19] B. Fidalgo, A. Arenillas, and J. A. Menéndez, “Influence of porosity and surface groups on the catalytic activity of carbon materials for the microwave-assisted CO2 reforming of CH4," Fuel, vol. 89, pp. 4002-4007, Dec. 2010.
[20] B. Fidalgo, and J. A. Menéndez, “Carbon materials as catalysts for decomposition and CO2 reforming of methane: A review,” Chin. J. Catal., vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 207-216, Feb. 2011.