DECOMPOSITION OF METHANE ON ZR-NI ALLOYS

Decomposition of methane on Zr7Ni10, ZrNi, Zr2Ni, Zr4Ni and Zr was inv estigated in the temperature range 573-823 K. The alloy of Zr4Ni effic iently removed methane by over 99% in 105 s at 673 K. The pressure red uction of methane approximately obeyed the first order kinetics far al l samples. The activation energy of the decomposition rate was determi ned to be 49 kJ mol(-1). The specific decomposition rate increased wit h the zirconium content for the four alloys, while that of Zr is small er than that of Zr(4)Wi. The decomposition rate also depended on the s urface conditions. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.