Production of hydrogen is primarily achieved via catalytic steam reforming, partial oxidation,and auto-thermal reforming of natural gas. Although these processes are mature technologies, they are somewhat complex and CO is formed as a by-product, therefore requiring a separation process if a pure or hydrogen-rich stream is needed. As an alternative method, supported metal catalysts can be used to catalytically decompose hydrocarbons to produce hydrogen. The process is known as catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons. Methane, the hydrocarbon containing the highest percentage of hydrogen, can be used in such a process to produce a hydrogen-rich stream. The decomposition of methane occurs on the surface of the active metal to produce hydrogen and filamentous carbon. As a result, only hydrogen is produced as a gaseous product, which eliminates the need of further separation processes to separate CO2 or CO. Nickel is commonly used in research as a catalyst for methane cracking in the 500-700C temperature range. To conduct methane catalytic cracking in a continuous manner, regeneration of the deactivated catalyst is required and circulation of the catalysts between cracking and regeneration cycles must be achieved. Different reactor designs have been successfully used in cyclic operation, such as a set of parallel fixed-bed reactors alternating between cracking and regeneration, but catalyst agglomeration due to carbon deposition may lead to blockage of the reactor and elevated pressure drop through the fixed bed. Also poor heat transfer in the fixed bed may lead to elevated temperature during the regeneration step when carbon is burned in air, which may cause catalyst sintering. A fluidized bed reactor appears as a viable option for methane catalytic cracking, since it would permit cyclic operation by moving the catalyst between a cracker and a regenerator. In addition, there is the possibility of using fine catalyst particles, which improves catalyst effectiveness. The aims of this project were 1) to develop and characterize a suitable nickel-based catalyst and 2) to develop a model for thermal catalytic decomposition of methane in a fluidized bed.

Production of hydrogen is primarily achieved via catalytic steam reforming, partial oxidation,and auto-thermal reforming of natural gas. Although these processes are mature technologies, they are somewhat complex and CO is formed as a by-product, therefore requiring a separation process if a pure or hydrogen-rich stream is needed. As an alternative method, supported metal catalysts can be used to catalytically decompose hydrocarbons to produce hydrogen. The process is known as catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons. Methane, the hydrocarbon containing the highest percentage of hydrogen, can be used in such a process to produce a hydrogen-rich stream. The decomposition of methane occurs on the surface of the active metal to produce hydrogen and filamentous carbon. As a result, only hydrogen is produced as a gaseous product, which eliminates the need of further separation processes to separate CO2 or CO. Nickel is commonly used in research as a catalyst for methane cracking in the 500-700C temperature range. To conduct methane catalytic cracking in a continuous manner, regeneration of the deactivated catalyst is required and circulation of the catalysts between cracking and regeneration cycles must be achieved. Different reactor designs have been successfully used in cyclic operation, such as a set of parallel fixed-bed reactors alternating between cracking and regeneration, but catalyst agglomeration due to carbon deposition may lead to blockage of the reactor and elevated pressure drop through the fixed bed. Also poor heat transfer in the fixed bed may lead to elevated temperature during the regeneration step when carbon is burned in air, which may cause catalyst sintering. A fluidized bed reactor appears as a viable option for methane catalytic cracking, since it would permit cyclic operation by moving the catalyst between a cracker and a regenerator. In addition, there is the possibility of using fine catalyst particles, which improves catalyst effectiveness. The aims of this project were 1) to develop and characterize a suitable nickel-based catalyst and 2) to develop a model for thermal catalytic decomposition of methane in a fluidized bed.

Cette étude porte sur la compréhension et l'amélioration de la réactivité des charbons pour la catalyse de la réaction du craquage du méthane. Pour ce projet, nous avons produit des charbons à partir de la gazéification de bois de peuplier à 750°C sous vapeur d'eau. Par la suite, deux traitements de fonctionnalisation ont été appliqués. D'une part, une oxygénation en phase gaz a été réalisée pour augmenter la concentration des sites oxygénés. D'autre part, une imprégnation en phase liquide dans différentes solutions de sel de nitrate (calcium et potassium) a permis d'accroître la quantité de minéraux. Les propriétés physico-chimiques (structure carbonée, sites oxygénés, minéraux et porosité/surface spécifique) des charbons bruts et fonctionnalisés ont été caractérisées. Les résultats ont montré que les deux traitements de fonctionnalisation ont augmenté la concentration des sites actifs visés. Par ailleurs, les évolutions des propriétés texturales et de la structure carbonée lors des deux fonctionnalisations ont été mises en évidence. Les tests catalytiques du craquage du méthane sur les différents charbons, à 700°C, ont montré que les minéraux sont les sites les plus réactifs vis-à-vis de cette réaction. Les fonctions oxygénées basiques et les défauts de structure sont également des sites actifs. Une diminution de l'efficacité lors du craquage a été observée due à la désactivation progressive de la surface des biochars. Le développement d'un modèle, à l'échelle du pore, a permis de montrer que la concentration initiale de sites actifs à la surface et leur différence de réactivité étaient deux paramètres importants dans la prédiction du comportement de désactivation de la surface. / This study is focused on the reactivity of biochar to catalyze the methane cracking reaction. Biochar was produced from steam gasification of poplar wood (750°C, 30 min, 20°C/min, 90%H2O/10%N2, fluidized bed) and then functionalized by an O2 gas-phase treatment and a wet impregnation into nitrate salts solutions to increase oxygen functions and minerals (calcium and potassium) concentrations at the biochar surface respectively. A set of characterization was performed on the raw and functionalized biochars to evaluate their surface physico-chemical properties. The oxygenated functions, the mineral particles, the carbonaceous structures and the textural properties (specific surface area and porosity) were analyzed. Results showed that the two functionalization treatments increased the concentration of the targeted functions and modified the carbon structures and the textural properties as well. Methane cracking tests were then performed on the biochars to compare their activities and correlate with their physico-chemical properties. It has been highlighted the minerals particles of potassium and calcium are the main active sites of the biochar surface. In fact, the reactivity of the impregnated biochars was twice to 4 times higher than the one of the raw biochar. The porosity of the biochar is the second most important criteria to notably obtain a good dispersion of the minerals particles. Basic oxygenated functions and disordered carbonaceous structures (defaults into the graphene sheets) are reactive as well. However, coke deposition progressively deactivated the biochars surface over the reaction in any case. A model at the pore scale has been proposed to better understand the surface deactivation.

This report travels through multiple disciplines to seek innovative and sustainable energy solutions for wastewater treatment plants. The first subject is a report about increased global temperatures and an over-exploitation of natural resources that threatens ecosystems worldwide. The situation is urgent where the current trend is a 2°C increase of global temperatures already in 2040. Furthermore, the energy-land nexus becomes increasingly apparent where the world is going from a dependence on easily accessible fossil resources to renewables limited by land allocation. A direction of the required transition is suggested where all actors of the society must contribute to quickly construct a new carbon-neutral resource and energy system. Wastewater treatment is as required today as it is in the future, but it may move towards a more emphasized role where resource management and energy recovery will be increasingly important. This report is a master’s thesis in energy engineering with an ambition to provide some clues, with a focus on energy, to how wastewater treatment plants can be successfully integrated within the future society. A background check is conducted in the cross section between science, society, politics and wastewater treatment. Above this, a layer of technological insights is applied, from where accessible energy pathways can be identified and evaluated. A not so distant step for wastewater treatment plants would be to absorb surplus renewable electricity and store it in chemical storage mediums, since biogas is already commonly produced and many times also refined to vehicle fuel. Such extra steps could be excellent ways of improving the integration of wastewater treatment plants into the society. New and innovative electric grid-connected energy storage technologies are required when large synchronous electric generators are being replaced by ‘smaller’ wind turbines and solar cells which are intermittent (variable) by nature. A transition of the society requires energy storages, balancing of electric grids, waste-resource utilization, energy efficiency measures etcetera… This interdisciplinary approach aims to identify relevant energy technologies for wastewater treatment plants that could represent decisive steps towards sustainability.