CO2 reforming of methane to produce syngas using anti-sintering carbon-resistant Ni/CeO2 fibers produced by solution blow spinning

Abstract

Climate change, greenhouse gas emissions and energy demand are actually calling for new methods to manage better carbon-containing compounds. In particular, the valorization of CH4 and CO2 by dry reforming of methane may both abate pollution and produce a syngas with a H2/CO ratio close to 1, which is advantageous for industrial applications, and is a cheaper and cleaner alternative to fossil fuels. Yet this process has limitations such as secondary reactions and catalyst deactivation by carbon deposition. Ni-based catalysts with enhanced activity and high resistance against carbon deposition are therefore actually under investigation. Here we present the first use of Ni–ceria-based fibers synthesized by solution blow spinning, as catalyst to produce syngas used by the dry reforming reaction. Catalyst stability was tested at 700 °C. Our results show no significant deactivation after 30 h on stream. Thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction of the spent catalyst reveal that the deposited carbon species did not alter the stability of the catalyst. Overall, findings show that solution blow spinning is a promising technique to produce low-cost nickel fibers and anti-sintering, carbon-resistant, and stable fibrous materials for CO2 reforming of methane.