Resistance to coking determination by temperature programmed reaction of n-butane with steam

Resistance to coking is one of the most important characteristics of nickel catalysts used for steam reforming of hydrocarbons, CO(2) reforming or methanation of carbon oxides. Microbalance reactors have for a long time played an important role in catalyst deactivation studies, providing coking and coke gasification rates. However, conventional thermogravimetric microbalances have a number of limitations. The aim of this paper is to compare initial temperatures of coking of Ni and Ni-Mo catalysts (with different resistance to coking) obtained in the temperature-programmed reaction of n-butane with steam with the results of coking rates obtained by the traditional thermogravimetric method. The investigations showed great agreement of the results.