Preparation of supported La0.66SrQ.34Ni0.3Co0.7O3 perovskite catalysts and their performance in methane and odorized natural gas combustion

Three industrially applicable forms of supported La0.66Sr0.34Ni0.3Co0.7O3 perovskite combustion catalyst were prepared: alumina pellets coated with perovskite powder, perovskite formed in situ on ceramic fibers, and perovskite formed in situ in fluidizable particles. Kinetics of methane combustion over these catalysts was determined in a plug-flow reactor. For the fiber supported catalyst as the representative one, the effects of various operational conditions on the performance were evaluated in a CSTR Berty reactor. The combustion was inhibited by carbon dioxide, but water had no effect. No carbon monoxide was detected in the effluents even when combusting a methane-rich mixture. No measurable effect of combusting commercial natural gas odorized by similar to 10 mL/m(3) methyl mercaptan was observed, although the catalyst was slowly deactivated by 150 mL/m(3) mercaptan in the feed. A simple kinetic model which takes CO2 inhibition into account is proposed: r = k(2) P-CH4/(1 + K-inh P-CO2).