CO2 reforming of CH4 over stabilized mesoporous Ni-CaO-ZrO2 composites

Mesoporous Ni-CaO-ZrO₂ nanocomposites with high thermal stability were designed and employed in the CO₂/CH₄ reforming. The nanocomposites with appropriate Ni/Ca/Zr molar ratios exhibited excellent activity and prominent coking resistivity. The Ni crystallites were effectively controlled under the critical size for coke formation in such nanocomposites. It was found that low Ni content resulted in high metal dispersion and good catalytic performance. Moreover, the basicity of the matrices improved the chemisorption of CO₂ and promoted the gasification of deposited coke on the catalyst.     

CO2 reforming of CH4 over nanocrystalline zirconia-supported nickel catalysts

Mesoporous nanocrystalline zirconia with high-surface area and pure tetragonal crystalline phase has been prepared by the surfactant-assisted route, using Pluronic P123 block copolymer surfactant. The synthesized zirconia showed a surface area of 174 m² g⁻¹ after calcination at 700 °C for 4 h. The prepared zirconia was employed as a support for nickel catalysts in dry reforming reaction. It was found that these catalysts possessed a mesoporous structure and even high-surface area. The activity results indicated that the nickel catalyst showed stable activity for syngas production with a decrease of about 4% in methane conversion after 50 h of reaction. Addition of promoters (CeO₂, La₂O₃ and K₂O) to the catalyst improved both the activity and stability of the nickel catalyst, without any decrease in methane conversion after 50 h of reaction.     

Monolithic-like TiO2 nanotube supported Ru catalyst for activation of CH4 and CO2 to syngas

Highly-ordered TiO₂ nanotube arrays (TiNTA) were prepared by an electrochemical anodization method and used as the carrier material to load 1 wt.% Ru. The Ru/TiNTA catalyst was then applied to the combination reactions of the partial oxidation of methane reaction (POM) with the carbon dioxide reforming with methane reaction (CRM) for syngas production. In comparison with the commercial TiO₂ powder (P25) supported 1 wt.% Ru catalyst, Ru/TiNTA shows higher activity and much better stability. The superior performance of Ru/TiNTA is attributed to the specific monolithic-like structure and confinement effect of TiNTA.     

Potential of zeolite supported rhodium catalysts for the CO2 reforming of CH4

Zeolite Y supported rhodium catalysts were prepared by ion-exchange starting from an aqueous solution of [Rh[(NH₃)₅Cl]Cl₂·6H₂0]. Previous work in this laboratory had shown that this procedure results in a Rh dispersion of near 100%. The catalysts were tested for their activity in the CO₂ reforming of CH₄. They were found to combine extraordinary stability with high activity and selectivity. At 923 K, 90 mol-% of the CH₄ was converted giving a H₂/CO ratio near unity. A weight loading of 0.5 to 0.93% Rh gives the highest turnover frequencies. Thermodynamic equilibrium is reached near 873 K. With a given Rh loading, the zeolite supports are superior to amorphous supports and NaY is superior to the HY. No deactivation was observed in tests of 30 h time on stream at atmospheric pressure or after repeated thermal cycles. No coke deposition was detected by temperature programmed oxidation of used catalysts. Temperature programmed reduction indicates the presence of three discernible Rh species.     

Transient modeling of combined catalytic combustion/CH4 steam reforming

This paper presents an investigation into the complex interactions between catalytic combustion and CH₄ steam reforming in a co-flow heat exchanger where the surface combustion drives the endothermic steam reforming on opposite sides of separating plates in alternating channel flows. To this end, a simplified transient model was established to assess the stability of a system combining H₂ or CH₄ combustion over a supported Pd catalyst and CH₄ steam reforming over a supported Rh catalyst. The model uses previously reported detailed surface chemistry mechanisms, and results compared favorably with experiments using a flat-plate reactor with simultaneous H₂ combustion over a γ-Al₂O₃-supported Pd catalyst and CH₄ steam reforming over a γ-Al₂O₃-supported Rh catalyst. Results indicate that stable reactor operation is achievable at relatively low inlet temperatures (400 °C) with H₂ combustion. Model results for a reactor with CH₄ combustion indicated that stable reactor operation with reforming fuel conversion to H₂ requires higher inlet temperatures. The results indicate that slow transient decay of conversion, on the order of minutes, can arise due to loss of combustion activity from high-temperature reduction of the Pd catalyst near the reactor entrance. However, model results also show that under preferred conditions, the endothermic reforming can be sustained with adequate conversion to maintain combustion catalyst temperatures within the range where activity is high. A parametric study of combustion inlet stoichiometry, temperature, and velocity reveals that higher combustion fuel/air ratios are preferred with lower inlet temperatures (≤500 °C) while lower fuel/air ratios are necessary at higher inlet temperatures (600 °C).     

Electrochemical reforming of CH4−CO2 mixed gas using porous Gd-doped ceria electrolyte with Cu electrode

This paper reports on the composition and flow rate of outlet gas and current density during the reforming of CH₄ with CO₂ using three different electrochemical cells: cell A, with Ni−GDC (Gd-doped ceria: Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_1.9) cathode/porous GDC electrolyte/Cu−GDC anode, cell B, with Cu−GDC cathode/ porous GDC electrolyte/Cu−GDC anode and cell C, with Ru−GDC cathode/ porous GDC electrolyte/ Cu−GDC anode. In the cathode, CO₂ reacts with supplied electrons to form CO fuel and O²⁻ ions (CO₂+2e⁻→CO+O²⁻). Too low affinity of Cu cathode to CO₂ in cell B reduced the reactivity of the CO₂ with electrons. The CO fuel, O²⁻ ions and CH₄ gas were transported to the anode through the porous GDC mixed conductor of O²⁻ ions and electrons. In the anode, CH₄ reacts with O²⁻ ions to produce CO and H₂ fuels (CH₄+O²⁻→2 H₂+CO+2e⁻). The reforming efficiency at 700−800 °C was lowest in cell B and highest in cell A. The Cu anode in cells A and C worked well to oxidize CH₄ with O²⁻ ions (2Cu+O²⁻→Cu₂O+2e⁻, Cu₂O+CH₄→2Cu+CO+2H₂). However, a blockage of the outlet gas occurred in all the cells at 700−800 °C. The gas flow is inhibited due to a reduction in pore size in the cermet cathode, as well as sintering and grain growth of Cu metal in the anode during the reforming.     

Cooperative action of cobalt and MgO for the catalysed reforming of CH4 with CO2

The reforming of CH₄ with CO₂ over activated carbon- or silica-supported cobalt catalysts with and without added MgO as promoter has been studied over a range of temperatures (500–700°C). A significant effect of the MgO on catalyst efficiency was observed. The presence of MgO markedly reduces the carbon deposition on the surface of the catalyst and therefore, contributes to the stability of the catalyst. Based on temperature-programmed surface reaction experiments of chemisorbed CO₂, the role of MgO may be ascribed to the formation of strongly adsorbed CO₂ species over its surface. These CO₂ species can easily react with the surface carbon deposits under CO₂-reforming reaction conditions, preventing in this way catalyst deactivation.     

Effect of carbon deposition over carbonaceous catalysts on CH4 decomposition and CH4-CO2 reforming

An investigation was made using a continuous fixed bed reactor to understand the influence of carbon deposition obtained under different conditions on CH₄-CO₂ reforming. Thermogravimetry (TG) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to study the characteristics of carbon deposition. It was found that the carbonaceous catalyst is an efficient catalyst in methane decomposition and CH₄-CO₂ reforming. The trend of methane decomposition at lower temperatures is similar to that at higher temperatures. The methane conversion is high during the initial of stage of the reaction, and then decays to a relatively fixed value after about 30 min. With temperature increase, the methane decomposition rate increases quickly. The reaction temperature has significant influence on methane decomposition, whereas the carbon deposition does not affect methane decomposition significantly. Different types of carbon deposition were formed at different methane decomposition reaction temperatures. The carbon deposition Type I generated at 900°C has a minor effect on CH₄-CO₂ reforming and it easily reacts with carbon dioxide, but the carbon deposition Type II generated at 1000°C and 1100°C clearly inhibits CH₄-CO₂ reforming and it is difficult to react with carbon dioxide. The results of XRD showed that some graphite structures were found in carbon deposition Type II.     

CO2吸附强化CH4/H2O重整制氢催化剂研究进展

CO_2吸附强化CH_4/H_2O重整制氢是提供低成本高纯氢气和实现CO_2减排的方法之一。其中,催化剂和吸附剂是该工艺的重要组成部分,其活性与选择性制约了反应速率和产率,寿命长短关系到生产成本。综述了CO_2吸附强化CH_4/H_2O重整制氢催化剂和吸附剂的研究现状及存在的问题,机械混合的催化剂与吸附剂在反应过程中存在吸附产物包覆催化活性位点的问题,导致催化剂活性迅速下降。针对该问题,进一步探讨了不同结构双功能复合催化剂的结构特性、研究现状及其在循环-再生过程中存在的问题,核壳型双功能催化剂具有吸附组分与催化剂组分相对独立、催化组分分散分布和比表面积大等优点,在吸附强化制氢中有进一步研究的潜力。利用双功能催化剂的结构特点,实现反复循环再生过程中催化与脱碳反应的匹配,是推动CO_2吸附强化CH_4/H_2O重整制氢技术工业化发展的关键。     

Mixtures of carbon and Ni/Al2O3 as catalysts for the microwave-assisted CO2 reforming of CH4

In this work, the microwave-assisted CO₂ reforming of CH₄ over mixtures of carbonaceous materials and an in-lab prepared Ni/Al₂O₃ was studied. Ni/Al₂O₃ is not heated by microwave radiation, and for this reason, microwave receptors, such as carbonaceous materials, must be mixed with this catalyst. In order to evaluate the role of the carbonaceous component of the blend, two different carbonaceous materials were used: an activated carbon, FY5, and a metallurgical coke, CQ. The carbonaceous component acted not only as microwave receptor but also as catalyst and, consequently, it influenced the catalytic activity of the mixture. FY5 + Ni/Al₂O₃ was found to be a better catalyst than CQ + Ni/Al₂O₃, since FY5 on its own showed a better catalytic activity than CQ. Ni/FY5, which consists of Ni impregnated directly onto the microwave receptor, was also evaluated as a catalyst. It was found that the catalytic activity of the mixture FY5 + Ni/Al₂O₃ was better than that of Ni/FY5. Finally, the influence of the heating device on the catalytic activity of FY5 + Ni/Al₂O₃ was studied. Conversions over FY5 + Ni/Al₂O₃ and microwave heating were found to be similar to conversions over Ni/Al₂O₃ and conventional heating.     

CO2 reforming of methane to syngas over highly active and stable Pt/MgO catalysts

Pt/MgO catalysts were prepared by wet impregnation. At 800 °C and atmospheric pressure, Pt/MgO catalysts exhibited a high stability at high gas hourly space velocity of 36,000 ml/g h with a CH₄/CO₂ ratio of 1.0. During 72 h time on stream, the conversion of CH₄ and CO₂ remained almost constant, at about 88% and 90%, respectively. There was no loss of Pt. After reaction, the XRD peaks of MgO became broader, indicating amorphization of MgO, which was supported by TEM results. XPS indicated that the reforming reaction had little influence on Pt. CO₂-TPSR results showed that some carbon deposition occurred under stoichiometric feed of CH₄ and CO₂, but it did not result in the deactivation of the catalyst. The deposited carbon came mainly from the decomposition of methane.     

Fabrication and characterization of Matrimid/MIL-53 mixed matrix membrane for CO2/CH4 separation

In this study, gas separation properties of Matrimid/MIL-53 mixed matrix membranes with different MOF weight percentages (0–20 wt.%) were investigated. TEM, XRD and DLS analysis were implemented to investigate MIL-53, structure and particles size distribution. SEM, FTIR, DSC and TGA analyses were conducted to characterize the fabricated membranes. The SEM images of these membranes showed good adhesion between polymer and particles, although for 20% MIL-53 loading, particles agglomeration was observed in some areas. Moreover, surface images of the membranes showed adequate dispersion of the particles in the polymer matrix, especially at lower MOF loadings. The permeability of pure CO₂ and CH₄ gases for all membranes were measured and the ideal CO₂/CH₄ selectivity was calculated. CH₄ permeability of membranes increased slightly as the percentage of loading increased. At 20 wt.% MOF loading, void formation led to a significant increase in CH₄ permeability (300% over pure Matrimid). CO₂ permeability showed the same trend; there was a 94% increase in permeability compared to pure Matrimid for 15 wt.% MMMs. CO₂/CH₄ selectivity also increased as MOF loading increased. The highest selectivity was shown for 15 wt.% MOF loading. This membrane had 84% growth in selectivity over pure Matrimid. Although at 20 wt.% MIL-53 loading, membrane separation performance was destroyed.     

Improvement of coke resistance of Ni/Al2O3 catalyst in CH4/CO2 reforming by ZrO2 addition

This work investigates the improvement of Ni/Al₂O₃ catalyst stability by ZrO₂ addition for H₂ gas production from CH₄/CO₂ reforming reactions. The initial effect of Ni addition was followed by the effect of increasing operating temperature to 500–700 °C as well as the effect of ZrO₂ loading and the promoted catalyst preparation methods by using a feed gas mixture at a CH₄:CO₂ ratio of 1:1.25. The experimental results showed that a high reaction temperature of 700 °C was favored by an endothermic dry reforming reaction. In this reaction the deactivation of Ni/Al₂O₃ was mainly due to coke deposition. This deactivation was evidently inhibited by ZrO₂, as it enhances dissociation of CO₂ forming oxygen intermediates near the contact between ZrO₂ and nickel where the deposited coke is gasified afterwards. The texture of the catalyst or BET surface area was affected by the catalyst preparation method. The change of the catalyst texture resulted from the formation of ZrO₂–Al₂O₃ composite and the plugging of Al₂O₃ pore by ZrO₂. The 15% Ni/10% ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ co-impregnated catalyst showed a higher BET surface area and catalytic activity than the sequentially impregnated catalyst whereas coke inhibition capability of the promoted catalysts prepared by either method was comparable. Further study on long-term catalyst stability should be made.     

CO2 reforming of methane to syngas: I: evaluation of hydrotalcite clay-derived catalysts

Several important chemicals can potentially be manufactured from natural gas (mostly methane) by first converting it to syngas (CO+H₂). The high cost of converting methane to syngas currently limits the large scale commercial use of syngas to produce methanol. This study focuses on the CO₂/steam reforming of methane to produce inexpensive syngas using nickel and magnesium containing hydrotalcite clay-derived catalysts. Several of these catalysts were prepared and evaluated. The results are compared with commercial Ni/Al₂O₃ or Ni/MgAl₂O₄ catalysts. At 815°C and 300 psi pressure, the fresh clay-derived catalysts showed identical performance as the commercial catalysts. However, under more severe operating conditions, the clay-derived catalysts exhibited superior activity and stability. Aging studies clearly showed that the clay-derived catalysts are more stable and coke resistant than commercial catalysts.     

Bound-state Ni species — a superior form in Ni-based catalyst for CH4/CO2 reforming

The effects of nickel loading, calcination temperature, support, and basic additives on Ni-based catalyst structure and reactivity for CH₄ reforming with CO₂ were investigated. The results show that the structure of the nickel active phase strongly depends on the interactions of the metal and the support, which are related to the support properties, the additives and the preparation conditions. “Free” Ni species can be formed when the interaction is weak and their mobility makes them easily deactivated by coking and sintering. The effect of strong metal-support interaction (SMSI effect) is different for various supports. The formation of solid solution of Ni–Mg–O₂ and the blocking of TiO_x by the partially reduced TiO₂ can both decrease the availability of Ni active sites in Ni/MgO and Ni/TiO₂. The spinel NiAl₂O₄ formed in Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ might be responsible for its high activity and resistance to coking and sintering because it can produce a highly dispersed active phase and a large active surface area as bound-state Ni species when the catalyst is prepared at high calcined temperatures or with low nickel loading. The addition of La₂O₃ or MgO as alumina modifiers can also be beneficial for the performance of the Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst.     

High-pressure sorption isotherms and sorption kinetics of CH4 and CO2 on coals

Using a manometric experimental setup, high-pressure sorption measurements with CH₄ and CO₂ were performed on three Chinese coal samples of different rank (VR_r = 0.53%, 1.20%, and 3.86%). The experiments were conducted at 35, 45, and 55 °C with pressures up to 25 MPa on the 0.354-1 mm particle fraction in the dry state. The objective of this study was to explore the accuracy and reproducibility of the manometric method in the pressure and temperature range relevant for potential coalbed methane (CBM) and CO₂-enhanced CBM (CO₂-ECBM) activities (P > 8 MPa, T > 35 °C). Maximum experimental errors were estimated using the Gauss error propagation theorem, and reproducibility tests of the high-pressure sorption measurements for CH₄ and CO₂ were performed. Further, the experimental data presented here was used to explicitly study the CO₂ sorption behaviour of Chinese coal samples in the elevated pressure range (up to 25 MPa) and the effects of temperature on supercritical CO₂ sorption isotherms.The experiments provided characteristic excess sorption isotherms which, in the case of CO₂ exhibit a maximum around the critical pressure and then decline and level out towards a constant value. The results of these manometric tests are consistent with those of previous gravimetric sorption studies and corroborate a crossover of the 35, 45, and 55 °C CO₂ excess sorption isotherms in the high-pressure range. The measurement range could be extended, however, to significantly higher pressures. The excess sorption isotherms tend to converge, indicating that the temperature dependence of CO₂ excess sorption on coals at high-pressures (>20 MPa) becomes marginal. Further, all CO₂ high-pressure isotherms measured in this study were approximated by a three-parameter excess sorption function with special consideration of the density ratio of the “free” phase and the sorbed phase. This function provided a good representation of the experimental data.The maximum excess sorption capacity of the three coal samples for methane ranged from 0.8 to 1.6 mmol/g (dry, ash-free) and increased from medium volatile bituminous to subbituminous to anthracite. The medium volatile bituminous coal also exhibited the lowest overall excess sorption capacity for CO₂. However, the subbituminous coal was found to have the highest CO₂ sorption capacity of the three samples. The mass fraction of adsorbed substance as a function of time recorded during the first pressure step was used to analyze the kinetics of CH₄ and CO₂ sorption on the coal samples. CO₂ sorption proceeds more rapidly than CH₄ sorption on the anthracite and the medium volatile bituminous coal. For the subbituminous coal, methane sorption is initially faster, but during the final stage of the measurement CO₂ sorption approaches the equilibrium value more rapidly than methane.     

ZrO2/SiO2- and La2O3/Al2O3-supported platinum catalysts for CH4/CO2 reforming

Surface-phase ZrO₂ on SiO₂ (SZrOs) and surface-phase La₂O₃ on Al₂O₃ (SLaOs) were prepared with various loadings of ZrO₂ and La₂O₃, characterized and used as supports for preparing Pt/SZrOs and Pt/SLaOs catalysts. CH₄/CO₂ reforming over the Pt/SZrOs and Pt/SLaOs catalysts was examined and compared with Pt/Al₂O₃ and Pt/SiO₂ catalysts. CO₂ or CH₄ pulse reaction/adsorption analysis was employed to elucidate the effects of these surface-phase oxides.

The zirconia can be homogeneously dispersed on SiO₂ to form a stable surface-phase oxide. The lanthana cannot be spread well on Al₂O₃, but it forms a stable amorphous oxide with Al₂O₃. The Pt/SZrOs and Pt/SLaOs catalysts showed higher steady activity than did Pt/SiO₂ and Pt/Al₂O₃ by a factor of three to four. The Pt/SZrOs and Pt/SLaOs catalysts were also much more stable than the Pt/SiO₂ and Pt/Al₂O₃ catalysts for long stream time and for reforming temperatures above 700 °C. These findings were attributed to the activation of CO₂ adsorbed on the basic sites of SZrOs and SLaOs.     

Adsorption of CO2 from dry gases on MCM-41 silica at ambient temperature and high pressure. 2: Adsorption of CO2/N2, CO2/CH4 and CO2/H2 binary mixtures

Adsorption equilibrium capacity of CO₂, CH₄, N₂, H₂ and O₂ on periodic mesoporous MCM-41 silica was measured gravimetrically at room temperature and pressure up to 25 bar. The ideal adsorption solution theory (IAST) was validated and used for the prediction of CO₂/N₂, CO₂/CH₄, CO₂/H₂ binary mixture adsorption equilibria on MCM-41 using single components adsorption data. In all cases, MCM-41 showed preferential CO₂ adsorption in comparison to the other gases, in agreement with CO₂/N₂, CO₂/CH₄, CO₂/H₂ selectivity determined using IAST. In comparison to well known benchmark CO₂ adsorbents like activated carbons, zeolites and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), MCM-41 showed good CO₂ separation performances from CO₂/N₂, CO₂/CH₄ and CO₂/H₂ binary mixtures at high pressure, via pressure swing adsorption by utilizing a medium pressure desorption process (PSA-H/M). The working CO₂ capacity of MCM-41 in the aforementioned binary mixtures using PSA-H/M is generally higher than 13X zeolite and comparable to different activated carbons.     

Tri-reforming of CH4 using CO2 for production of synthesis gas to dimethyl ether

In general, there are three processes for production of synthesis gas; steam reforming, CO₂ reforming and partial oxidation of methane or natural gas. In the present work, we refer to tri-reforming of methane to synthesize syngas with desirable H₂/CO ratios by simultaneous oxy-CO₂-steam reforming of methane. In this study, we report the results obtained on tri-reforming of methane over the Ni/ZrO₂ based catalyst in order to restrain the carbon deposition and to evaluate the catalytic performance. Results of tri-reforming of CH₄ by three catalysts (Ni/Ce–ZrO₂, Ni/ZrO₂ and Haldor Topsoe R67-7H) are showed that the coke on the reactor wall and the surface of catalyst were reduced dramatically. It was found that the weak acidic site, basic site and redox ability of Ce–ZrO₂ play an important role in tri-reforming of methane conversion. Carbon deposition depends not only on the nature of support, but also on the oxidant as like steam or oxygen. Therefore, the process optimization by reactant ratios is important to manufacture the synthesis gas from natural gas and carbon dioxide.     

Synthesis of mixed alcohols from CO2 contained syngas on supported molybdenum sulfide catalysts

The performances of active carbon supported molybdenum sulfide catalysts prepared by different procedures or promoted by different elements in the synthesis of mixed alcohols from CO₂ containing syngas were examined. The results showed that high alcohol activity and selectivity could be obtained by employing a rapid drying procedure and employing a H₂S---H₂ stream for (NH₄)₂MoS₄ decomposition. Addition of Co, Cr and Cl to K---Mo/C catalyst led to an increase in the alcohol activity or selectivity. The presence of CO₂ in the feed caused a greater amount of water to be produced but reduced the formation of CO₂. The product distribution was also strongly influenced by the presence of either CO₂ or H₂S in the feed. Addition of CO₂ reduces the formation of higher alcohols while H₂S increases higher alcohol formation.