Hydrogen production via methane decomposition over nickel supported on synthesized ZSM-5/MCM-41 zeolite composite material

Abstract

Catalytic decomposition of methane (CDM) for COx-free hydrogen production is carried out over 20 wt% Ni supported on H-ZSM-5/MCM-41 composite material, synthesized from alkaline desilication of a conventional H-ZSM-5(Si/Al = 40) and surfactant-recrystallization process. The composite material is used, for the first time, as support of Ni-catalyst in CDM. Tested for 6 h at 620 °C under atmospheric pressure, the 20 wt% Ni/H-ZSM-5/MCM-41 exhibits relatively higher H2 production rate than 20 wt% Ni supported on the parent H-ZSM-5(Si/Al = 40) or on the pure MCM-41 in the order H-ZSM-5/MCM-41 > H-ZSM-5 > MCM-41. All catalysts display a remarkable catalytic stability. The higher catalytic activity of Ni/composite could be related to an improvement in both the access to active Ni metal atoms and the dispersion of the latter as evidenced by H2-chemisorption measurement. The fresh catalysts are characterized by several techniques while the reacted ones are studied by the Raman spectroscopy.