Full-scale Operation with Ruthenium Catalyst

4 Full-scale Operation with Ruthenium Catalyst 

The new rathenium catalyst has been used in the Pacific Ammonia Inc plant at Kitimat in British Columbia since 1992. Ammonia had been made there, from the methanol plant purge gas, since 1986 using a conventional iron synthesis catalyst. The new rathenium catalyst converter was in series with the old converter. Although in 1992 there was no additional synthesis gas to increase production capacity, the ruthenium catalyst operated well in a radial flow reactor and reduced both the steam and electricity used by 30-40% and 5-10% respectively. The new catalyst was said to be twenty times as active as the iron catalyst, and the effluent gas contained about 20% ammonia. 

The catalyst was reduced at 300°C, and took less than one day, with the evolution of only small amounts of water. The catalyst was operated at lower pressures and temperatures than the iron catalyst, and in matked contrast, could also tolerate the presence of 4000 ppm of caibon monoxide, with little or no effect on activity. 

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