Catalytic methane pyrolysis in molten MnCl2-KCl
Abstract
Methane decomposition to produce molecular hydrogen and solid carbon was catalyzed by contact with molten KCl:MnCl2 mixtures in a bubble column reactor from 700 to 1050 °C. The apparent activation energy decreased from approximately 300 kJ/mole for pure KCl to 161 kJ/mole in a 67:33 mol % mixture of KCl:MnCl2. At 30% methane conversion, pyrolysis in the KCl:MnCl2 melt at 1050 °C had high hydrogen selectivity (∼99%) in comparison to pure molten KCl (∼90%), which was observed to produce multiple hydrocarbon co-products. The pyrolysis activity of the KCl:MnCl2 melt remained stable for over 30 h and produced a separable, highly graphitic carbon solid that accumulated at the surface of the higher-density salt melt.
- Publication:
-
Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
- Pub Date:
- October 2019
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.apcatb.2019.05.026
- Bibcode:
- 2019AppCB.254..659K
- Keywords:
-
- Methane decomposition;
- Hydrogen;
- Graphitic carbon;
- Molten salt;
- Manganese chloride