EDTA impregnation assisted synthesis of nickel nanoparticles embedded in activated carbon and its application for dry reforming of methane

Abstract

In this paper, the catalysts with nanoscale nickel particles embedded in activated carbon were synthesized by Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) assisted impregnation method. The experimental results revealed that EDTA addition could promote Ni particle dispersion and decrease Ni particle size. Ni particle size was significantly decreased from 18.23 to 4.57 nm when Ni/EDTA ratio was increased from 1:0 to 1:3. Catalytic performance of Ni15-AC-E3 demonstrated that CH4 and CO2 conversion rate under 850 °C were 90.05% and 96.28%, which were decreased by 1.08% and 1.27% after 72 h dry reforming methane (DRM) reaction. Moreover, the characteristic of the used catalyst showed that Ni particle size was only increased from 4.57 to 5.94 nm after the stability test, and NiO was not appeared. Meanwhile, the deposited carbon in the used catalyst was 5.02%. The above results meant that the catalyst prepared by EDTA assisted impregnation method had the ability of suppressing carbon deposition, Ni particle sintering and oxidation during DRM reaction.