Johnson Matthey is leading the reforming catalyst development activities in the BIONICO project and has wide ranging experience in both base metal and Platinum group metal based catalytic systems.
The BIONICO project will use a fluidizable reforming catalyst to convert methane and carbon dioxide into a synthesis gas mixture of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and methane. The hydrogen is then separated from other gases with a membrane developed by other project partners.
The catalyst will be required to be stable under fluidization conditions through the use of a physically durable support material that will not undergo attrition or agglomeration. Resistance to deactivation either by coke formation, active metal sintering or poisoning from contaminants in the biogas (such as sulphur compounds) will also be required.
