Development of a Sponge Metal Catalyst for a Recombiner

Received August 24, 1979 Accepted for Publication March 8, 1982 Fundamental and pilot plant experiments have been carried out to develop a new recombiner catalyst with high catalytic activity and less deterioration at high temperature. The catalyst is prepared by electroplating palladium over a chromium layer, which in turn has been plated onto a sponge nickel metal surface. The optimal Cr/Ni ratio and palladium content are 2% and 0.6 mg/cm², respectively. The catalytic activity of the new catalyst is about ten times more than presently available metallic catalysts.