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Iron-induced deactivation of Raney and supported nickel methanation catalysts. Semi-annual progress report, September 15, 1978-September 15, 1980

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6894048· OSTI ID:6894048

It was concluded that: (1) the deactivation of Ni/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ methanation catalysts is caused by particle size growth and surface site blockage (probably by carbon deposition); (2) the particle size growth in Ni/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ methanation catalysts results from the formation of volatile Ni(CO)/sub 4/, vapor phase transport and subsequent decomposition of Ni(CO)/sub 4/; (3) a region of safe operation conditions is found, and justified by thermodynamic equilibrium calculations, the proposed criterion is in terms of the equilibrium Ni(CO)/sub 4/ partial pressure, it can also be applied to other Ni/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ systems with different loading and/or geometry; (4) the mechanism of methanation in the unsafe region may be different from that in the safe region; and (5) in-situ Moessbauer spectroscopy has been performed for the first time on a working iron catalyst at high pressure Fischer-Tropsch reaction conditions. In our brief studies, it was clearly shown that under these reactions conditions: (A) the top layer of a precipitated iron catalyst bed is present as a chi-carbide phase, and (B) the bottom layer of a precipitated iron catalyst bed may contain appreciable amounts of magnetite, depending on the CO conversion.

Research Organization:
Wisconsin Univ., Madison (USA). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
DOE Contract Number:
FG21-78ET12248
OSTI ID:
6894048
Report Number(s):
DOE/ET/12248-T2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English