Production of ultrapure hydrogen in a Pd-Ag membrane reactor using noble metal supported on La-based oxides. Modeling for the dry reforming of methane reaction

Abstract

A review is presented here of our previous contributions concerning the production of ultrapure hydrogen through the dry reforming of methane conducted in a membrane reactor. The reaction equilibration ratio is the criterion to compare the catalytic performance of the La-based catalysts used in these studies. The solids were characterized by Laser Raman, X- ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and temperature-programmed reduction. The different behaviors are discussed taking into account the characterization results. To predict the influence of key process variables on conversion and product composition, a mathematical model is proposed to simulate the membrane reactor built around a palladium-silver membrane with 100% hydrogen selectivity. This study uses the kinetic equations developed for the dry reforming reaction on a Rh/La2O3 catalyst. © 2009 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.