US 11,814,289 B2
Black powder catalyst for hydrogen production via steam reforming
Ahmad A. Wedhaya, Dhahran (SA); Bandar A. Fadhel, Dhahran (SA); Mohammed A. Albuali, Dammam (SA); and Rami Bamagain, Khobar (SA)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Jan. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/140,236.
Prior Publication US 2022/0212926 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C01B 3/40 (2006.01); B01J 23/745 (2006.01); B01J 8/06 (2006.01); B01J 37/08 (2006.01)
CPC C01B 3/40 (2013.01) [B01J 8/065 (2013.01); B01J 23/745 (2013.01); B01J 37/08 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0233 (2013.01); C01B 2203/1047 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of steam reforming hydrocarbon, comprising:
receiving a black powder collected from a natural-gas pipeline system and that formed on an inside surface of a natural gas pipeline that is a steel pipeline of the natural-gas pipeline system, the black powder comprising magnetite and hematite; and
reacting hydrocarbon comprising methane with steam via reforming catalyst at a temperature in a range of 500° C. to 1100° C. and at a pressure in a range of 1 bar to 28 bar to generate synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, wherein the reforming catalyst comprises the black powder treated by:
heating the black powder at a temperature of at least 500° C. to remove carbon from the black powder; and
subjecting the black powder to air calcination at a temperature of at least 775° C., wherein the black powder as treated comprises at least 50 weight percent of hematite.