Methane reforming with CO2 in molten salt using FeO catalyst

Methane dry reforming with CO2 using FeO powder in molten salt has been investigated at various flow rates of CH4/CO3 mixed gases (CH4/CO2 = 1) between 50 and 400 ml/min at 1223 K in an infrared furnace. This work is carried out to determine the usefulness of this method for the chemical storage of solar energy. The CH4/CO2 mixed gases passing through the molten salt (Na2CO3/K2CO3 = 1) containing the FeO powder were catalytically decomposed into CO, H-2 and H2O. The product gas mole ratios, CO/H-2/H2O, were shown to be 3:1:1 for a high flow rate of 200 ml/min and to be CO/H-2 = 2:1 for a low flow rate of 50 ml/min. The results were explained in terms of the kinetics of the CH4-reforming reaction and the thermodynamics of the redox process of FeO powder mixed in the molten salt; CH4 + 2FeO double right arrow 2Fe + H-2 + CO + H2O Fe + CO2 double right arrow FeO + CO for a high How rate, and FeO + CH4 double right arrow Fe + 2H(2) + CO Fe + CO4 double right arrow FeO + CO for a low flow rate. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.