Abstract
This research project focuses on the development of catalysts for syngas production by synthesizing Ni–Co bimetallic catalyst using aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and magnesium oxide (MgO) as the catalyst support. Ni/Al2O3 (CAT-1), Ni–Co/Al2O3 (CAT-2) and Ni–Co/Al2O3–MgO (CAT-3) nanocatalysts were synthesized by sol–gel method with citric acid as the gelling agent, and used in the dry reforming of methane (DRM). The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of Al2O3 and MgO addition on the catalytic properties and the reaction performance of synthesized catalysts in the DRM reactions. The characteristics of the catalyst are studied using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy, H2-temperature programmed reduction, CO2-temperature programmed desorption and temperature programmed oxidation analysis. The characteristics of the catalyst are dependent on the type of support, which influences the catalytic performances. FESEM analysis showed that CAT-3 has irregular shape morphology, and is well dispersed onto the catalyst support. BET results demonstrate high surface area of the synthesized catalyst due to high calcination temperature during catalysts preparation. Moreover, the formation of MgAl2O4 spinel-type solution in CAT-3 is proved by XRD analysis due to the interaction between alumina lattice and magnesium metal which has high resistance to coke formation, leading to stronger metal surface interaction within the catalyst. The CO2 methane dry reforming is executed in the tubular furnace reactor at 1073.15 K, 1 atm and CH4/CO2 ratio of unity to investigate the effect of the mentioned catalysts. Ni–Co/Al2O3–MgO gave the highest catalyst performance compared to the other synthesized catalysts owning to the strong metal–support interaction, high stability and significant resistance to carbon deposition during the DRM reaction.
Highlights
The global warming issue is getting crucial due to the substantial dependence on petroleum-based energy that leads to the increment of greenhouse-gas emissions within the atmosphere [30]
Steam reforming of methane (SRM), partial oxidation of methane (POM) and methane dry reforming (DRM) [7] are three common techniques which have been used in industries
A foreseeable drawback of this process is the production of H2/CO with the ratio of 3:1 that is undesirable for Fischer–Tropsch (F–T) synthesis. CO2 reformation of methane is based on the utilization of CO2 and CH4 to convert these gases into syngas with low or adjustable hydrogen–carbon monoxide ratio (H2/CO), which is a desirable feedstock for F–T synthesis to gain liquid hydrocarbons [9, 10, 13]
Summary
The global warming issue is getting crucial due to the substantial dependence on petroleum-based energy that leads to the increment of greenhouse-gas emissions within the atmosphere [30]. The concentration of C O2 in the atmosphere has currently increased by about 1.5 ppm/ year which indicated that if there is about 5.3 × 1021 g air, the rate of CO2 increase is about 8 billion tons per year [5]. CO2 reformation of methane is based on the utilization of CO2 and CH4 to convert these gases into syngas with low or adjustable hydrogen–carbon monoxide ratio (H2/CO), which is a desirable feedstock for F–T synthesis to gain liquid hydrocarbons [9, 10, 13]. DRM has been considered as the favorable process for syngas production compared to steam reforming and partial oxidation, since it produces lower H2/CO ratio that is appropriate for downstream F–T synthesis [13].
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