Catalytic Conversion of Tar Components from Hot Coke Oven Gas over Ni/MgAl(O) Catalyst

A series of Ni/MgAl(O) catalyst samples were prepared by the co-precipitation-hydrothermal method and were used for the catalytic conversion of model tar compounds toluene and naphthalene from hot coke oven gas with lower steam/carbon molar ratios in a fixed-bed reactor at atmospheric pressure. The effects of Mg/Al molar ratio in the catalyst, steam/carbon ratio and other reaction conditions on the catalytic performance were examined. The results indicated that the Ni/MgAl(O) catalyst with Mg/Al molar ratio of 3 showed the optimal catalytic performance for the catalytic conversion of model tar compounds. Toluene and naphthalene were completely converted into light fuel gases CO and CH4 over 15%Ni/Mg3Al(O) at 700-800 degrees C and steam/carbon = 0.68. The experimental results of introducing 0.05% H2S (molar fraction) in the feed gas showed that the Ni/MgAl(O) catalyst had good sulfur tolerance. The addition of a small amount of Pt in the catalyst could obviously improve the catalytic performance of the Ni/MgAl(O) catalyst.