EFFECT OF REDUCTION CONDITIONS ON THE ACTIVITY OF NI GAMMA-AL2O3 CATALYST FOR METHANATION REACTION/

The effect of reduction conditions, mainly reduction temperature and d uration time on the activity of Ni/gamma Al2O3 catalyst were studied f or a methanation reaction in a gradientless Berty reactor. The methana tion reaction was investigated using a feed containing CO (6.7 mole%), H-2 (26 mole%), and the balance being nitrogen at a pressure of 30 ps ig and a fixed temperature of 350 degrees C. The reduction temperature was varying from 250 to 500 degrees C, in order to investigate its ef fect on the methanation reaction. The methanation activity of the cata lyst increased to a maximum by increasing the reduction temperature up to a maximum at 300-350 degrees C and showed a slight negative declin e afterward. The second parameter investigated was reduction duration time which was varied from 2 to 16 hours. It was observed that the met hanation reaction activity increased by increasing the reduction durat ion time up to 6 hours. After six hours, there was no increase in acti vity. Based on the finding of this investigation, a recommended set of reduction conditions is given: reduction temperature of 300 degrees C and a duration time of six hours.