PARTIAL OXIDATION OF METHANE TO SYNTHESIS GAS OVER A PT 10-PERCENT RHGAUZE/

The partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas has been studied ove r a Pt/10% Rh gauze catalyst. The experiments were carried out at atmo spheric pressure using a single gauze in a quartz reactor heated in an electric furnace. The furnace temperature was varied in the range 200 -1050 degrees C and the space time in the range 0.00015-0.0005 s. The feed consisted of a mixture of CH4 : O-2 : Ar approximate to 2 : 1 : 1 0 and oxygen was only partly consumed. The products were carbon oxides , water, hydrogen and traces of C-2-hydrocarbons with compositions far from equilibrium. Compared to a Pt metal gauze a higher methane conve rsion and more favourable selectivities of synthesis gas, and in parti cular of H-2, were obtained at similar furnace temperatures. The Pt/10 % Rh gauze showed a better stability with time on stream compared to t he Pt gauze. No loss of metal was observed from the Pt/10% Rh gauze af ter 8 h on stream. The oxidation reactions were studied separately fro m steam reforming and the water-gas shift reaction at temperatures up to 1050 degrees C at a space time of 0.00021 s. At 960 degrees C the r esults indicate that CO and H-2 are formed beside H2O as primary produ cts.