Hydrogen production on nickel-monolith structures by partial oxidation of methane at high pressure

We report here our preliminary studies disclosing the use of nickel honeycomb catalysts in the partial oxidation of methane (POM) to syngas at 12 bar, at temperatures above 973 K and CH4/O-2 molar ratios of 2 in the feed. It has been observed that both CH4 conversion and CO and H-2 selectivities approach that predicted by thermodynamic equilibrium. Moreover, activity and stability during on-stream processing depend markedly on the method of nickel incorporation and on the nature of the phases present at catalyst surfaces, which in turn control the formation of metallic Ni, the active species in POM reaction.