Investigation of Catalytic Reactions for CO2 Reduction. Part I. Evaluation of a Nickelkieselguhr Catalyst

摘要

A nickel-kieselguhr methanation catalyst was selected as the initial catalyst of this program for promoting the catalytic reduction of carbon dioxide by hydrogen to methane and water. A catalytic reactor was designed, fabricated, and evaluated utilizing the nickel-kieselguhr methanation catalyst. The reactor processed 2.2 pounds of CO2 per day, equivalent to a one-man daily output. The minimum temperature required to achieve the maximum CO2 conversion rate of 98% for this catalyst was determined to be 575F at a pressure of 1 atmosphere. The total weight of hydrogen required to reduce the 2.20 pounds of CO2 under these conditions is 0.397 pounds. The same batch of catalyst, weighing 300 grams, was used during this entire phase of the experimental program. The catalyst was periodically examined for possible carbon deposition and physical deterioration. While neither of these effects was perceptible, it eventually became necessary to purge the catalyst with hydrogen before each experiment to offset the increasing effect of sulfur poisoning. The report includes a discussion of theory of catalysis and is concluded by recommendations for altering the reactor design and selecting other catalysts for the future phases of this program. (Author)