Abstract

GOMEZ MACIAS, Elías; JARAMILLO, Alejandro; MUNERA, John  and  SANCHEZ, Mauricio. Preparation, characterization and evaluation of MgO for flameless combustion of natural gas. Rev.fac.ing.univ. Antioquia [online]. 2006, n.37, pp.41-49. ISSN 0120-6230.

A MgO catalyst was prepared by aqueous dispersion of commercial magnesium oxide followed by drying and calcination to obtain a thermally-stabilized material. Fresh and used solid samples were characterized by XRD, BET surface area, and SEM-EPMA, which revealed a MgO matrix with periclase structure containing CaO on the surface. Catalytic activity tests were conducted in a fixed-bed reactor packed with MgO particles. Natural gas - air mixtures fed to the reactor were maintained below the LFL. Different flow rates and inlet temperatures were evaluated, and CH₄, CO₂and CO concentrations in the effluent stream were measured with a NDIR analyzer. The temperature required to achieve total methane conversion was increased as the flow rate of the reacting mixture increased. A low-cost, thermally- stable catalytic combustion system aimed at highly-efficient combustion of natural gas can be developed based on the results of this study. Moreover, this system would eliminate problems related with stability, security and environmental effects inherent to conventional thermal combustion processes.

Keywords : catalytic combustion; magnesium oxide; natural gas; packed bed.

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