Hydrogen production by catalytic cracking of methane over nickel gauze under periodic reactor operation

The catalytic cracking of methane over nickel gauze is proposed as an attra ctive alternative for the production of GO-Free hydrogen. The catalyst deac tivates due to intensive coke deposition. Therefore, the reactor was operat ed periodically with the reaction followed by the catalyst regeneration by burning of coke in oxidative atmosphere. The optimal reaction performance w as found to consist of reaction periods of 4 min followed by 4 min regenera tion periods. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.