Laboratory of Catalysis and Catalytic Processes - Research lines - Catalytic combustion of methane

Energy Department

Research and Publications

• Research lines
• » Catalytic combustion of methane
• » Hydrogen Production for Fuel Cells Applications by Catalytic Partial Oxidation of Hydrocarbons
• » Fischer-Tropsch synthesis
• » CO2 activation
• » NH3-Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx for mobile applications
• » NOx abatement in exhaust gases from vehicles
• » Combined Soot Combustion and NOx Removal
• » Process Intensification and Sustainability
• » First-principles guided chemical reaction engineering
• » Hydrogen Production via Water Splitting
• » Hydrogen Utilization in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.
• Laboratories
• Publications since 1999
• Patents

Catalytic combustion of methane

The use of lean burn natural gas fuelled vehicles (NGVs) represents a promising alternative for a sustainable mobility, since they engender a lower impact on environment. Besides renewable biogas sources can also be used with limited engine modifications. Nevertheless, the "green" image of the NGVs risks to be compromised by the emissions of un-burned CH4, the main constituent of natural gas, which is a severely regulated strong green house gas. Catalytic combustion represents the most effective way to reduce CH4 emissions and to match limit values. However several technical challenges exist since CH4 is a very stable molecule and typical reaction conditions of the NGVs exhausts are quite severe: low temperature (<400°C), low CH4 concentrations (500-1000 ppm), excess of oxygen, high amounts of CO2 (5-10% v/v) and H2O (10-20% v/v) and presence of SOX (1 ppm). In this condition the major objective is to develop catalytic materials exhibiting the highest activity at the lowest temperatures and a good resistance to the poisons present in the exhaust (H2O and SOX). Methane emissions are also a major issue in several other energy related processes such as geothermal processes, coal mine ventilation gases, stationary natural gas and biogas fuelled engines and fuel cells, which requires the development of catalytic treatment of the exhaust in order to match the increasingly stringent regulations.

The research activities at the Laboratory of Catalysis and Catalytic Processes have been carried out adopting a combined approach including the development of novel catalysts (Pd-based systems supported on different materials, bimetallic Pd/Pd-based catalysts, Pt-based catalysts, hexaaluminates), mechanistic and kinetic investigations, catalytic reactor design by mathematical modelling and process analysis.

Faculties involved in the project are: Pio Forzatti, Gianpiero Groppi.