Effect of methanol, ethanol, and formaldehyde addition on the steam conversion of methane in the presence of nickel catalysts of various porous structure

The effect of CH2O, CH3OH, and C2H5OH on the methane conversion and the CO, CO2, and coke yield in the methane steam conversion on commercial nickel catalysts for steam reforming C 11-9-09 (12.8 wt % Ni/α-Al2O3) and hydrogenation (54.0 wt % Ni/kieselguhr) was studied at a temperature of 750°C and an H2O:CH4 ratio of 1.5–2.0. The action of these compounds was studied both individually and for their joint presence in the methane-steam mixture. Their effect on the reaction depends on the pore structure of the catalyst. Using the catalyst C 11-9-09 as an example, it was found that the introduction of formaldehyde into steam suppressed the methane conversion into Cs and high-boiling-point carbon compounds and gave the desired products with a yield close to the equilibrium value. When all three additives were present in the steam, ethanol was responsible for the formation of Cs.