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U.S. Department of Energy
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Fundamental studies of catalytic gasification: Quarterly report, January 1, 1987-March 31, 1987

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6141548

The gasification of graphite by H/sub 2/O vapor, wet H/sub 2/ and wet O/sub 2/, catalyzed by a Ni/K mixture has been studied using controlled atmosphere electron microscopy (CAEM). In H/sub 2/O vapor the carbon consumption, between 550 and 1100 C, is catalyzed by an edge recession mode of attack in the (1120) direction, with no sign of deactivation. In wet H/sub 2/ both channeling and edge recession occur simultaneously. The activation energy obtained was equal to 30 +- 2 Kcal/mol. The catalyst deactivates above 1000 C, but can be regenerated by treating the sample in H/sub 2/O vapor at 600 C. In wet O/sub 2/, graphite is also gasified by edge recession, but no preferred direction was observed. The catalyst maintains its activity up to 1000 C, and an activation energy of 25 +- 2 Kcal/mol was obtained. These results show that the catalytic properties of the Ni/K mixture are superior to those of Ni and K alone due to a cooperative effect between the components. The kinetic properties of a catalyst derived from a mixture of KOH and Ni(NO/sub 3/)/sub 2/ for steam gasification of three chars are presented. H/sub 2/, CO/sub 2/ and small amounts of CO and CH/sub 4/ are the reaction products. The product distribution is controlled by the activation energies for formation of the gases. The activation energies for H/sub 2/ and CO/sub 2/ formation are 29 and 36 Kcal/mol respectively. The catalyst derived from the KOH/Ni(NO/sub 3/)/sub 2/ mixture has better catalytic properties, due to a cooperative effect between nickel and potassium, than catalyst derived by loading the components alone. The mixture has a higher activity and lower activation energies for H/sub 2/ and CO/sub 2/ production than KOH alone, and higher resistance to deactivation than Ni(NO/sub 3/)/sub 2/ alone. Since char and graphite gasification have the same activation energies, it is concluded that there is a common mechanism for their gasification catalyzed by the KOH/Ni(NO/sub 3/)/sub 2/ mixture. 31 refs., 18 figs., 3 tabs.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
6141548
Report Number(s):
LBL-23147; ON: DE87013972
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English