Catalytic Ammonia Decomposition for Coal-Derived Fuel Gases

The objective of this study is to develop and demonstrate catalytic approaches for decomposing a significant percentage (up to 90 percent) of the NH{sub 3} present in fuel gas to N{sub 2} and H{sub 2} at elevated temperatures (550 to 900{degrees}C). The NH{sub 3} concentration considered in this study was {similar_to}1,800 to 2,000 ppmv, which is typical of oxygen-blown, entrained-flow gasifiers such as the Texaco coal gasifier being employed at the TECO Clean Coal Technology Demonstration plant. Catalysts containing Ni, Co, Mo, and W were candidates for the study. Before undertaking any experiments, a detailed thermodynamic evaluation was conducted to determine the concentration of NH{sub 3} in equilibrium with the Texaco gasifier coal gas. Thermodynamic evaluations were also performed to evaluate the stability of the catalytic phases (for the various catalysts under consideration) under NH3 decomposition conditions to be used in this study. Two catalytic approaches for decomposing NH{sub 3} have been experimentally evaluated. The first approach evaluated during the early phases of this project involved the screening of catalysts that could be combined with the hot-gas desulfurization sorbents (e.g., zinc titanate) for simultaneous NH{sub 3} and H{sub 2}S removal. In a commercial system, this approach would reduce capital costs by eliminating a process step. The second approach evaluated was high-temperature catalytic decomposition at 800 to 900{degrees} C. In a commercial hot-gas cleanup system this could be carried out after radiative cooling of the gas to 800 to 900{degrees}C but up stream of the convective cooler, the hot particulate filter, and the hot-gas desulfurization reactor. Both approaches were tested in the presence of up to 7,500 ppmv H{sub 2}S in simulated fuel gas or actual fuel gas from a coal gasifier