SiC as stable high thermal conductive catalyst for enhanced SR process

Silicon carbide has been chosen as a support for steam methane reforming (SMR). In fact, its good conductive properties may improve the temperature profile, while decreasing the high AT caused by the high endothermicity of the reaction and, at the same time, increasing the heat transfer from external furnace, reactor wall and catalyst particles. 10 wtNi was deposited on the SiC support by incipient wetness impregnation. The sample was calcined at different temperatures in order to study both the chemical-physical properties and the interaction between the support and active phases. The sample calcined at 700°C was tested in a SMR laboratory plant under different operative conditions, in order to evaluate the activity and stability with time-on-stream. On a laboratory scale, the catalyst shows good results, although, at very high temperatures (960°C) the support shows a slight SiO2 formation.