ScienceDirect - Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis : Development of synthesis gas production catalyst and process
To compensate our readers for that inconvenience, and to provide additional documentary support of the above-linked report of research into CO2 conversion technology, we include three additional links, with accompanying excerpts, following:
"Development of Synthesis Gas Production and Process
Date: 2007
Author: Fuyuki Yagi, et. al.
Affiliations: Chiyoda Corporation (Japan) and Japan National Oil Corporation
Abstract: The CO2 reforming catalyst and process have been developed. The commercial size CO2 reforming catalyst has been demonstrated ... for more than 1,100 hours, and the first GTL (gas-to-liquid) oil from natural gas in Japan was produced in November, 2002. ... the synthesis gas was generated by CO2 and H2O reforming. ... The catalyst has high resistance against carbon deposition ... (and) ... could allow the stable operation under CO2 and H2O reforming conditions."
----------
Our take on the above is, and other reports from other sources indicate, that Chiyoda and Japan Oil were operating a Methane, or natural gas, tri-reforming process, similar to that described, as we have reported, by Song and Grimes at Penn State University, wherein Steam and Carbon Dioxide are used to convert Methane into higher hydrocarbons.
And, the "synthesis gas", we'll presume, was destined for Fischer-Tropsch, or related, catalysis into liquid hydrocarbons.
In any case, these researchers continued their work, as documented in the report linked immediately following:
ScienceDirect - Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis : Development of CO2 reforming technology
"Development of CO2 Reforming Technology
Date: 2007
Author: Fuyuki Tagi, et. al.
Affiliations: Chiyoda Corporation (Japan) and Japan National Oil Corporation
Abstract: The commercial scale CO2 reforming catalyst has demonstrated it's activity and stability ... under operating conditions for the manufacture of synthesis gas ... for approximately 7,000 hours. ... Synthesis gas was generated by CO2 and H2O reforming with high efficiency. Our catalyst exhibited high carbon removal with steam from the catalyst surface, which prevents carbon deposition on our CO2 reforming catalyst."
-----------
The above validates information we've also documented from other sources, wherein steam can be utilized, not only to improve the production of higher hydrocarbons, or synthesis gas which can be catalyzed into liquid hydrocarbons, but to prevent the widely-acknowledged problem of carbon deposition on catalyst surfaces in Carbon Dioxide reforming reactions.
Another example of such research demonstrating the utility of Steam in the reforming of Methane with Carbon Dioxide comes from Brazil, as in the following:
ScienceDirect - Journal of Natural Gas Chemistry : Synthesis Gas Production from Natural Gas on Supported Pt Catalysts
"Synthesis Gas Production from Natural Gas
Date: 2005
Mariana Souza, et. al.
Universidad Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Abstract: Auto thermal reforming of Methane, combining partial oxidation of Methane with CO2 or Steam, was carried out with (Platinum based) catalysts in a temperature range of 300 to 900 degrees C."
----------
More discussion of Steam's beneficial influence on catalyst carbon deposition is presented, but we included the above Brazilian research primarily because it centers on another fact we have previously documented: Some steps in combined CO2-Steam-Methane reforming reactions to synthesize higher hydrocarbons are exothermic, thus helping to drive other steps in the overall process, and making the entire reforming process "auto thermal"; wherein less externally-supplied energy is needed to move the total process forward.
However, where it might, for whatever other considerations, not be that advantageous to use steam in such a tri-reforming process, Carbon Dioxide can be used alone to reform Methane, as we have also previously documented, and as reaffirmed by the research from China reported in:
ScienceDirect - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy : Synthesis gas production from dry reforming of methane over Ce0.75.
"Synthesis Gas Production from Dry Reforming of Methane
December 2009
Jixiang Chen, et. al.
Tianiin University, PR China
Abstract: (Cerium, Zirconium and Ruthenium) catalysts were ... tested for CH4-CO2 reforming. ... The ruthenium catalyst exhibited good stability and excellent resistance to carbon deposition."
-----------
So, as the Chinese researchers seem to indicate, there might be choices of catalyst composition which can be made that will limit Carbon deposition in such reactions, and thereby obviate the need to add steam to prevent it. Thus, Methane can be "dry reformed" - by using Carbon Dioxide.
And, again, the end product of these processes is synthesis gas, which can then be catalyzed via several established processes and made to produce a variety of liquid hydrocarbons.
In any case, from scientists in three nations, the message is clear: Carbon Dioxide can be reacted with Methane, which can itself be made from Carbon Dioxide, via the Sabatier process, or, from processes of Coal hydro-, or steam-, gasification; with or without added Steam, to synthesize higher hydrocarbons.
