Honeycomb monolithic design to enhance the performance of Ni-based catalysts for dry reforming of methane

Abstract

Supported Ni catalysts (4.5 wt%) using a Ce-Zr oxide (18/82 molar ratio and a ceria-rich surface) depicting advanced redox properties, were deposited by washcoating over cordierite honeycombs (230 and 400 cpsi). FIB-STEM unveiled nanostructure details otherwise undistinguishable by conventional techniques. The catalytic performance was evaluated in the dry reforming of methane at 700−900 °C, using a CH4:CO2 1:1 feedstock, and exploring high Weight Hourly Space Velocity (115−346 L g−1 h−1). The structured catalysts exhibited better performance than the corresponding powders, reaching values close to thermodynamic limits for both reactants conversion and H2/CO ratio, from 750 °C, and no deactivation was observed in prolonged experiments (24−48 h). This was related to both the high catalyst efficiency after being deposited with low loading on the cordierite and the intrinsic advantages of the monolithic reactor, like preventing from the kinetic control that operates in powdered samples under high WHSV or limiting the deactivation.