A CATALYTIC SORPTION HYBRID PROCESS FOR LANDFILL GAS CLEANUP/

Landfill gas (LFG) consists primarily of methane and carbon dioxide an d a few percent of O-2, N-2, and H2O. It also contains numerous other organic compounds, many containing halogens and sulfur. Such compounds besides being potentially toxic to human, animal, and plant life, in addition present challenges to the further processing of LFG. For exam ple, halogen-and sulfur-containing compounds in LFG severely impact th e life of reforming catalysts used to produce H-2, to be utilized in a fuel cell for the production of electric energy. For such processing, it is important to reduce the concentration of such compounds from th e level of tens to hundreds of parts per million, typically found in L FG, down to the single-digit parts per million and, most preferably, p arts per billion level. Effective processes to accomplish this are not currently available. This paper describes the development of such a p rocess, which is well-suited to fuel-cell applications of LFG. The pro cess combines catalytic hydroprocessing, utilizing Co-Mol Al2O3 or Ni- Mo/Al2O3 catalysts in an atmospheric pressure reactor, together with s orption technology, utilizing disposable adsorbents, for the removal o f HCl and H2S produced during the catalytic treatment. In laboratory, and field investigations the process has been shown to be very effecti ve in removing the S- and Cl-containing organic compounds, for the mos t part down to their analytical detection limits. In companion field t ests, no significant catalyst deactivation was observed during over 10 00 h of testing.