Total catalytic oxidation of a side-product for an autothermal restoring hydrogen process

The catalytic total oxidation of toluene is used to bring the required calories to restore hydrogen from methylcyclohexane (MCH). Two coupled reactions, both catalyzed by Pt/alumina, are thus considered in one autothermal heat-exchanger reactor (HER): endothermic dehydrogenation of methylcyclohexane and catalytic combustion of less than 10% of produced toluene (6% for the chemical reaction, about 4% for heat losses). Both reactions are carried out at 350 °C. Methylcyclohexane and toluene light-off curves have been performed in one elementary module. Methylcyclohexane combustion has been eliminated due to its safety drawbacks, although the MCH combustion provides best stability to autothermal HER.