Chemical Engineering

In previous publications, a new family of catalysts, relying on some particular physicochemical behavior of spinels derived from metal-doping of a negative-value mining residue (UGSO, standing for UpGraded Slug Oxides) has been tested with high success on steam and dry reforming as well as on partial oxidation of methane. In this work, the use of such catalysts is extended to other, chemically refractory materials, under conditions of reforming. These materials include aromatic hydrocarbons and bio-oils produced through pyrolysis of biomasses and other carbon-rich materials (i.e. plastics); thus, bio-oils are complex and rather unstable liquid mixtures which cannot be used without further processing as fuels or, more generally, as feedstock in the chemical industry. The tests take place in a lab-scale differential isothermal fixed-bed reactor at selected weight-hourlyspace velocities and temperature ranging between 750 and 850°C. The gaseous products are analyzed by gas chromatography and full mass balances accompanied with statistical validation are provided with. Fresh and used catalysts are analyzed by electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, x-rays diffraction BET for specific surface calculation and thermogravimetric analyses. In general, for all feedstock tested, the catalyst catalytic efficiency and stability are tested over time-on-stream up to 500 h. These highly promising results are produced at atmospheric pressures. In industrial applications for H₂ production, the reforming reactors are operated at pressures typically around 20 atm. All other conditions are similar to the ones tested at our lab. We are presently building a new kg-lab-scale facility which will be operated at 20 atm in order to reproduce the industrial conditions and, thus, benchmark the new family of catalysts. It is highly probable that some initial results at kg-lab scale will be available for presentation in the conference.