Catalytic Production of CO_xFree Hydrogen by Methane Decomposition over Activated Carbons

Abstract

Methane decomposition over activated carbons was carried out in a fixed bed, quartz flow reactor to produce COx free hydrogen. Five types of activated carbons were used; they were derived from hardwood, rubber black, coconut shell, coal, and graphite. The effect of operating conditions like temperature (in the range of 800–900°C), gas hourly space velocity (in the range of 6–20 l/h), and impurities content were studied on decomposition. The physicochemical properties like surface area, metal, and carbon content generated from the methane decomposition for the fresh and used catalysts are tested in this work and relates to the carbon activity for production of hydrogen. A reaction order of 1 is obtained for methane decomposition over the most active one and activation energies in the range from 128 to 205 kJ mol/1. The activated carbon derived from hardwood shows a high value of sustainability factor (R0) at all of the implied temperatures.