Intrinsic kinetics of methane steam reforming over a Ni/α Al_2O_3 catalyst

Experiments were carried out to study the kinetics of the methane steam reforming over a commercial Ni/α Al_2O_3 catalyst in a differential reactor under conditions without diffusion limitation. The experiments demonstrate that both CO and CO_2 are formed as primary products. The formation rates of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide increase with raising the partial pressures of methane, and carbon dioxide (for the formation of CO) or water gas (the formation of CO 2). Five possible reaction models were considered,and applying the method of parameter estimation and model discrimination, a set of satisfactory models of intrinsic rates for methane reforming over the catalyst used is obtained.