Synthesis gas is a high valued compound as a basic chemicals at various chemical processes. Synthesis gas is mainly produced commercially by a steam reforming process. However, the process is highly endothermic so that the process is very energy-consuming process. Thus, this study was carried out to produce synthesis gas by the partial oxidation of methane to decrease the energy cost. The effects of reaction temperature and flow rate of reactants on the methane conversion, product selectivity, product ratio, and carbon deposition were investigated with 13wt% Ni/MgO catalyst in a fluidized bed reactor. With the fluidized bed reactor, CH4 conversion was 91%, and Hz and CO selectivities were both 98% at 850℃ and total flow rate of 100 mL/min. These values were higher than those of fixed bed reactor. From this result, we found that with the use of the fluidized bed reactor it was possible to avoid the disadvantage of fixed bed reactor (explosion) and increase the productivity of synthesis gas.

The effect of La promoter on the carbon deposition and catalytic activity in the synthesis gas production with supported Ni catalysts was investigated. Active component was Ni and support was CeO2 and the promoter used was La. The reaction was carried out in a fixed bed reactor at 1 atm and 650~800℃. The catalysts were prepared by two methods, the impregnation method and urea method. The catalysts prepared by the urea method showed 10 times higher surface area than those of prepared by the impregnation method. By the introduction of La promoter in the catalyst system, carbon deposition was remarkably reduced from 16% to 2%. It appears that the promoter facilitates the formation of a stable fluoride-type phase, which reduces the carbon deposition. The best catalytic activity and CO and H2 selectivities were obtained with 2.5wt% Ni/Ce(La)Ox catalyst at 750℃, giving 90% methane conversion, 93 and.80% of CO and H2 selectivities, respectively.

The effects of reaction temperature and flow rate of reactants on the methane conversion, product selectivity, product ratio, and carbon deposition were investigated with 13wt% Ni/MgO catalyst. Reaction temperatures were changed from 600 to 850℃, and reactants flow rates were changed from 100 to 200 mL/mim. There were no significant changes in the methane conversion observed in the range of temperatures used. It is possibly stemmed from the nearly total exhaustion of oxygen introduced. The selectiveties of hydrogen and carbon monoxide did not largely depend on the reaction temperature. The selectivities of hydrogen and carbon monoxide were 96 and 90%, respectively. Carbon deposition observed was the smallest at 750℃ and the largest at 850℃. It is found that the proper reaction temperature is 750℃. The best reactant flow rate was 150 ml/min.

Synthesis gas is produced commercially by a steam reforming process. However, the process is highly endothermic and energy intensive. Thus, this study was conducted to produce synthesis gas by the partial oxidation of methane to cut down the energy cost. Supported Ni catalysts were prepared by the impregnation method. To examine the activity of the catalysts, a differential fixed bed reactor was used, and the reaction was carried out at 750~850℃ and 1 atm. The fresh and used catalysts were characterized by XRD, XPS, TGA and AAS. The highest catalytic activity was obtained with the 13wt% Ni/MgO catalyst, with which methane conversion was 81%, and H2 and CO selectivities were 94% and 93%, respectively. 13wt% Ni/MgO catalyst showed the best MgNiO2 solid solution state, which can explain the highest catalytic activity of the 13wt% Ni/MgO catalyst.