CO2 utilization in methane reforming using La-doped SBA-16 catalysts prepared via pH adjustment method

Abstract

In this work, lanthanum-combined silica mesoporous (SBA-16) supported Ni-based catalysts are synthesized and examined for synthesis gas (syngas) production in the dry methane reforming (DMR) process. The pH-adjusted hydrothermal technique has been used to modify the mesoporous silica-based support, which has been then impregnated by Ni particles. The pH value had a substantial impact on creating well-ordered mesostructures and lanthanum ion replacement inside the SBA-16 structure. Therefore, at the ideal pH of 3.80, a zeolite-like mesostructure of Si-La has been produced. Thus, La2O3 species have been inserted in the SBA-16 structure, favoring a larger dispersion of impregnated Ni particles of lower dimensions. In addition to the pH modification during the synthesis step, the effects of lanthanum loading and Ni weight percentage variation on the catalytic performance as well as the physicochemical analyses of the catalysts have been also explored. The calcined catalysts have been tested in the DMR process in the temperature range of 600–750 °C. Furthermore, the coke resistance, activity, and structural changes of optimal catalysts have been studied over 11 h. The results showed that the 15Ni/40La-SBA16(3.80) catalyst performs the best structural characteristics and catalytic activity.