Influence of the support on the activity of a supported nickel-promoted molybdenum carbide catalyst for dry reforming of methane

Abstract

Al2O3-, SiO2-, and SiC-supported molybdenum carbide catalysts promoted by nickel for the dry reforming of methane were evaluated at 800 °C. Several oxide precursors were synthesized and carburized using temperature-programmed carburization (TPC). The precursors and catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, TPC, N2 physisorption, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. The increase in Ni content led to increased activity, showing that the ideal Ni/Mo atomic ratio for nickel-supported β-Mo2C catalysts supported on alumina is in the range 2 < Ni/Mo < 3, and for those supported on silica in the range 3 < Ni/Mo < 4. Catalysts supported on SiC were active and stable under the tested conditions with CH4 conversions of 80% and CO2 conversions of 90% regardless of Ni/Mo ratio. SiC was promising as a support, since SiC-supported molybdenum carbide promoted by nickel was active and stable under the reaction conditions tested and showed little formation of carbon filaments.