Partial oxidation of methane to carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a fluidized bed reactor

A fluidized bed reactor has been used to investigate the partial oxidation of methane to syngas over a NiO/NiAl₂O₄ catalyst. The axial concentration profiles of the different species along the bed have been determined and related to the observed temperature profiles. The amount of carbon deposited on the catalyst under different operating conditions has also been determined. The results show that under suitable conditions, the bubbling fluidization regime gives a stable reactor performance with high conversion and selectivity, and a limited amount of carbon formation.