3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/45
Browse
2 results
Search Results
Item Selective CO methanation over Ru on carbon and titania based supports(2016) Kumi, David OforiSelective CO methanation (SMET), as an alternative process for cleaning trace CO in reformate gas feed for fuel cell applications, has gained increasing attention recently. This is mostly due to the fact that the technique can circumvent the major setbacks experienced in the preferential oxidation (PROX) reaction of CO to CO2. The PROX technique is a more established process and has been extensively researched over the years. In this project, we have focused on studying Ru supported on carbon and titania based materials for the selective CO methanation reaction. A rutile morphology in the form of a novel dandelion like structure was synthesized using TiCl4. The rutile dandelion like structure was composed on rutile nanorods which were radially arranged and they had fairly high surface area (61 m2g-1). Titania rutile was also synthesized by calcining anatase at 900 ℃ for 10 h. It was observed that the rutile grains had grown larger after the transformation from anatase to rutile and this was accompanied by a collapsed surface area (from 52 to 9 m2/g). The two rutile morphologies were employed as Ru catalyst supports and applied in both CO and selective CO methanation reactions. The dandelion like supported catalyst demonstrated higher catalytic performance compared to the thermally prepared rutile supports. This was attributed to the smaller Ru particles sizes which were found to be sinter resistant. Small RuO2 nanoparticle sizes supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were obtained by the use of a microwave polyol synthesis. Tuning the microwave temperature generated the different RuO2 sizes without changing the percentage loading or conventionally heat treating the catalyst. The CNTs were synthesized by a chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method using a Fe-Co/CaCO3 catalyst. The microwave polyol synthesized catalysts were compared to a wet impregnated catalyst. It was noted that the impregnated catalyst preparation method showed little control over the RuO2 particle size distribution. The catalysts were tested in both selective CO and CO methanation. The catalyst with smaller particle sizes, prepared using a short microwave induction time, performed better when compared to the other catalysts. It was also observed that all the catalysts promoted the undesired reverse water gas shift reaction for all the catalyst at temperatures above 260 ℃. Abstract The surface of the CNTs were altered by introducing pyridinic nitrogen in an in situ doping process to give nitrogen doped CNTs (N-CNTs). The doping was confirmed by TEM as the CNTs were seen to show bamboo compartments in the tubular CNT structure. A composite of CNT-TiO2 was prepared by a facile hydrothermal process and used to modify the CNTs. The TiO2 (anatase) coated CNTs were synthesized using titanium butoxide as anatase source. A solution containing CNTs and the TiO2 source was reacted in an autoclave. Images from TEM and SEM revealed partially coated anatase N-CNTs and CNTs. Both the doping and the coating of the CNTs resulted in an improved surface area. The coated samples showed significantly improved thermal stability which was attributed to the shielding effect of the TiO2. Raman analysis revealed that the N-CNTs had a high defect content compared to the CNTs. When these materials were employed as Ru catalyst supports for methanation reactions, the nitrogen doped CNTs demonstrated superior catalytic activity compared to the CNT supported catalyst. They both promoted the reverse water gas shift reactions. The NCNT-TiO2 and CNT-TiO2 catalysts showed higher activity and significantly retarded the reverse water gas shift reaction. Mesoporous solid carbon spheres (CSs-H) synthesized via the hydrothermal route using sugar as carbon source was functionalized by acid treatment. The data were compared to an un-functionalized CSs-H used as a Ru catalyst support. Raman data suggested a high defect content for the functionalized spheres and the carbons had a slightly higher surface area when compared to the un-functionalized spheres. Two catalysts were prepared from the functionalized solid carbon spheres; a microwave irradiation prepared catalyst and a wet impregnation prepared catalyst. The microwave prepared catalyst, with slightly smaller Ru particles, performed slightly better in both CO and selective CO methanation reactions than the impregnated catalyst. In the CO2 only methanation reaction almost similar activity was obtained for both catalysts which implied the preparation method did not have much effect on the reaction. The un-functionalized supported catalyst performed poorly in both the reactions due to the poorly dispersed Ru nanoparticles which had sintered. Despite the poor performance, the catalyst did not promote the undesired RWGS reaction. This was attributed to the absence of oxygenated functional groups such as OH.Item A study of WC-X systems for potential binders for WC(2012-01-31) Kumi, David OforiThis work was done to select a possible replacement for cobalt as a binder through a phase diagram approach using selected WC-X systems. The study was in two parts; experimental and calculations using Thermo-Calc. Potential binders were identified by searching for solid solution formation, a similar melting point to cobalt, and a small solubility for WC as main requirements, from phase diagrams. The experimental samples were designed to be 50 at.% WC and 50 at.% binder for easy manufacturing and analysis, even though this is not an optimum amount for application. Twelve different alloy compositions were prepared and were analysed in both as-cast and heat treated conditions. The samples were annealed at 1000ºC for 168 hours under vacuum. Microstructure characterization was carried out on two scanning electron microscopes with EDX, and X-ray diffraction was done. Two sets of calculations were made, with one comprising the same composition studied experimentally (50 at.% WC and 50 at.% binder), and a more realistic composition comprising 90 at.% WC and 10 at.% binder. The latter was done to give a better understanding to the experimental microstructures. Most of the WC decomposed into W2C; this was attributed to the high temperature of the arc-melter and should not occur on normal hard metal preparation. Most of the compositions calculated had solid solution binders and WC. Thermo-Calc could not predict the decomposition of the carbide phase at high temperature. Some phases identified were similar in both the experiments and calculations. Sample W25:C25:Ni43:V7 had the binder phase initially solidifying as (Ni) but transformed into ~Ni2V on cooling; it was identified as the most likely alloy to replace cobalt but will still need further work such as preparing a more realistic composition, manufacturing by sintering, and comparing properties such as hardness with WC-Co. Thus, the binder composition was selected from the Ni-V binary system.