Application of Microwave in Hydrogen Production from Methane Dry Reforming: Comparison Between the Conventional and Microwave-Assisted Catalytic Reforming on Improving the Energy Efficiency

Seyyedmajid Sharifvaghefi,Babak Shirani,Ying Zheng,Mladen Eic

doi:10.3390/catal9070618

Seyyedmajid Sharifvaghefi, Babak Shirani + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9070618

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Abstract

The microwave-assisted dry reforming of methane over Ni and Ni–MgO catalysts supported on activated carbon (AC) was studied with respect to reducing reaction energy consumption. In order to optimize the reforming reaction using the microwave setup, an inclusive study was performed on the effect of operating parameters, including the type of catalysts’ active metal and their concentration in the AC support, feed flow rate, and reaction temperature on the reaction conversion and H2/CO selectivity. The methane dry reforming was also carried out using conventional heating and the results were compared to those of microwave heating. The catalysts’ activity was increased under microwave heating and as a result, the feed conversion and hydrogen selectivity were enhanced in comparison to the conventional heating method. In addition, to improve the reactants’ conversion and products’ selectivity, the thermal analysis also clarified the crucial importance of microwave heating in enhancing the energy efficiency of the reaction compared to the conventional heating.

Highlights

IntroductionApplying methane dry reforming process for hydrogen production has received significant attention during the last decades as a result of increasing demand for clean and renewable energy [1,2,3,4,5]
Applying methane dry reforming process for hydrogen production has received significant attention during the last decades as a result of increasing demand for clean and renewable energy [1,2,3,4,5].In addition, the main reactants of the reforming reaction, methane and carbon dioxide, have tremendous effects on global warming, which necessitate controlling their concentration by converting them to a clean and sustainable source of energy, i.e., hydrogen
The surface area for NiMgO/activated carbon (AC) was found to be the lowest (539 m2 /g), the H2 uptake of this catalyst was only lower than the Ni/MgO/AC catalyst

Summary

Introduction

Applying methane dry reforming process for hydrogen production has received significant attention during the last decades as a result of increasing demand for clean and renewable energy [1,2,3,4,5]. The main reactants of the reforming reaction, methane and carbon dioxide, have tremendous effects on global warming, which necessitate controlling their concentration by converting them to a clean and sustainable source of energy, i.e., hydrogen. Carbon monoxide is another valuable product of methane dry reforming reaction that is further reacted to produce ultraclean fuels including gasoline, methanol, and dimethyl ether (DME) with negligible hazardous byproducts, e.g., aromatics [6,7]. Improving the CO2 reforming of methane is essential in terms of conversion, selectivity, and energy efficiency. Applying novel techniques to perform the reaction with minimum input energy is necessary to improve the process efficiency and reduce the costs

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