Chemical‐Looping Reforming of Methane Using Iron Based Oxygen Carrier Modified with Low Content Nickel

Abstract

AbstractFe2O3/Al2O3 and Fe2O3/Al2O3 modified by low content of Ni (below 2% in weight) oxygen carriers were prepared by mechanical mixing and impregnation method. The synthesized oxygen carriers were characterized by means of X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), BET‐surface area and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). Besides, redox cyclic reactivity and the performance of chemical looping reforming of methane of the oxygen carriers were studied in a thermal gravimetrical analysis (TGA) and fixed bed at 850°C. It was observed that the redox reactivity of the oxygen carriers is improved by Ni addition because synergic effect may occur between NiO and Fe2O3/Al2O3 to form NiFe2O4 and NiAl2O4 spinel phases. However, the improvement was not apparent as Ni addition reached 1 wt% or more because more nickel loaded resulted in methane decomposition into H2 and carbon leading to carbon deposition. The SEM and BET analysis showed that NiFe2O4 and NiAl2O4 particles dispersed into the pores of the Fe2O3/Al2O3 particles in the course of preparation. In addition, the resistance to sintering of the modified samples increased with the Ni addition increasing. The results of successive redox cycles showed that the Ni modified Fe2O3/Al2O3 oxygen carriers have good regenerability. With integration of reactivity and carbon deposition, the content 1.04 wt% of nickel doping was an optimal amount in the three modified samples.