Hydrogen production by catalytic methane decomposition over yttria doped nickel based catalysts

Abstract

Catalytic methane decomposition can become a green process for hydrogen production. In the present study, yttria doped nickel based catalysts were investigated for catalytic thermal decomposition of methane. All catalysts were prepared by sol-gel citrate method and structurally characterized with X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Brunauer, Emmet and Teller (BET) surface analysis techniques. Activity tests of synthesized catalysts were performed in a tubular reactor at 500 ml/min total flow rate and in a temperature range between 390 °C and 845 °C. In the non-catalytic reaction, decomposition of methane did not start until 880 °C was reached. In the presence of the catalyst with higher nickel content, methane conversion of 14% was achieved at the temperature of 500 °C. Increasing the reaction temperature led to higher coke formation. Lower nickel content in the catalyst reduced the carbon formation. Consequently, with this type of catalyst methane conversion of 50% has been realized at the temperature of 800 °C.