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US 10,851,307 B2Granted
System and method for pyrolysis using a liquid metal catalyst
AssigneePalo Alto Research Center Incorporated
InventorsDivyaraj Desai, Jessica Louis Baker Rivest
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Abstract
A process for decomposing a hydrocarbon-containing composition includes feeding the hydrocarbon-containing composition to a reactor containing a catalytically active molten metal or a catalytically active molten metal alloy, wherein the metal or alloy catalyzes a decomposition reaction of the hydrocarbon-containing composition into a hydrogen-rich gas phase and a solid carbon phase. The solid carbon phase is insoluble in the metal or alloy. The process may be a continuous process.
Claims11
A process for decomposing a hydrocarbon-containing composition, the process comprising:
- feeding the hydrocarbon-containing composition to a reactor containing a catalytically active molten metal or a catalytically active molten metal alloy;
- and
- controlling an interfacial tension within the reactor by maintaining a dynamic equilibrium of oxide to optimize bubble surface area;
- wherein the metal or alloy catalyzes a decomposition reaction of the hydrocarbon-containing composition into a hydrogen-rich gas phase and a solid carbon phase;
- wherein the solid carbon phase is minimally soluble in the metal or alloy;
- wherein the reactor is operated at a temperature of less than 1000° C.;
- wherein the hydrocarbon-containing composition is fed to the reactor through a porous diffuser extending through a wall of the reactor;
- and
- wherein the interfacial tension is controlled by doping the hydrocarbon-containing composition with oxygen or ozone to maintain a selected degree of oxidation of the molten metal.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.