Ni and Ni-Fe perovskite for catalytic abatement of tar

Abstract

LaNiO3 and  LaNi0,3Fe0,7O3  have  been  tested  as  catalyst  for  tar cracking  reaction.  They  have  been  prepared,  characterised  and tested  in  a  laboratory  plant  at  500-600°C.  Naphthalene  and  n-exadecane  were  employed  as  representatives  tar  compounds. The  tests  on  LaNiO3  show  that  it  has  a  very  high  activity  but XRD  characterisation  reveals  that  the  catalyst  is  not  stable  in the  reducing  atmosphere  produced  during  the  cracking  tests. XRD and EDS analysis show that there is carbon deposition on catalyst  that  mechanically  blocks  the  passage  of  flow.  The addition of iron in the catalyst structure is effective only for the n-exadecane  cracking  reaction.  In  the  tests  with  naphthalene LaNi0,3Fe0,7O3 does not solve the problem of carbon deposition on catalyst and hence its deactivation.