Catalytic partial oxidation nickel-based catalysts

In principle, the SBA/Topsoe process consists in mixing the burner exit gases with steam and sending the mixture to a fixed-bed reactor on a nickel base catalyst, at about 2.10s Pa absolute and about 950°C. This technique, sometimes called partial catalytic oxidation, is only applied to the conversion of natural gas, LPG and naphthas, particularly because, if heavier feeds are used, problems arise in the prior separation of sulfur derivatives that cannot be tolerated by the catalyst, as well as excessive deposits of tars and coke. Table 1.9 gives a number of typical gas compositions obtained in this type of process. 

Vella, L.D., Villoria, J.A., Specchia, S., Mota, N., Fierro, J.L.G., and Specchia, V. (2011) Catalytic partial oxidation of CH4 with nickel-lanthanum-based catalysts. Catal Today, 171 (1), 84-96. 

Matis G, Juillet F, Teichner SJ (1976) Catalytic oxidation of paraffins on nickel oxide-based catalysts. I. Selectivity in the partial oxidation of isobutane and propane. Bull Soc Chim Fr 1633-1636 Pajonk GM (1991) Aerogel catalysts. Appl Catal 72 217-276... 

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