Effect of biochar support on the catalytic performance of Fe-based catalysts for CH4 cracking

Abstract

In the context of carbon neutrality, the decarbonization utilization of fossil energy has gradually become a research hotspot. The focus of this paper is on the use of loaded Fe-based catalysts for typical catalytic methane decomposition (CMD) hydrogen production technologies. The temperature response and product characteristics of rice husk-based biochar-Fe catalysts for CMD technology were investigated, with a focus on the effect of functional ‘supports’ on the reaction and product. The results show that the CH4 conversion, H2 yield and carbon yield are significantly higher at 850 °C than the reaction at 750 °C, reaching 24.39%, 739.26 mmol/gFe and 3.05 g/gFe. The solid phase characterization shows that the active metal existed in the form of Fe0 before the reaction and is converted to Fe3C after the reaction, and the average particle size of the metal in the mesopores is only 21.09 nm under the influence of the biochar pore size. The solid phase products are mainly highly graphitized “Coke” due to the negative effect of the biochar support on the dispersion of the active metal; the biochar also enhances the reduction of Fe2O3, which in turn affects the shaping of the active components and products.