Event Information
Title:

Catalytic Reforming of Biogas for Syngas Production

Type:

Lecture

Sponsor:

Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

Lecturer:

McKenzie Primerano Kohn
Columbia University

Date:

Monday, March 11, 2013

Time:

11:00

Location:

Sussman Family Building for Environmental Sciences, M. Magaritz Seminar Room

Biogas is a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide produced from the anaerobic microbial digestion of biomass. It is an inexpensive, local source of energy but is usually wasted because the high CO2 content reduces the quality of the fuel. Catalytic dry and auto-thermal reforming is investigated as a means to completely utilize the CH4 and CO2 to produce syngas, H2 and CO, a valuable product that can be used to produce liquid fuels, provide H2 for fuel cells, or improve the combustion of biogas. The effect of the chlorocarbon methyl chloride (CH3Cl), a common biogas impurity, on the catalyst is also considered. Chlorocarbons are potential catalyst poisons that are unique to bio-derived fuels due to the natural presence of chlorinated compounds in organic material that are released during thermal treatment. Despite their presence in biogas, the effect of chlorocarbons on the dry reforming reaction has not been extensively studied. This work investigates the effect of CH3Cl in particular on the activity and selectivity of methane dry and auto-thermal reforming using a Rh/γAl2O3 catalyst.