Multiwalled carbon nanotubes-supported Nickel catalysts for the steam reforming of propane

Abstract

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-supported nickel catalysts with different metal-loading contents were synthesized trough deposition–precipitation (DP) method for its subsequent performance study on steam reforming reaction of propane. The metal-loading content was set at 5, 10, 20, and 25% of nickel. Results showed that 20 wt% nickel oxide over MWCNTs (20% NiO/MWCNTs) had the best performance, on the propane steam reforming reaction, in terms of H2 conversion comparing with the rest of the NiO/MWCNTs catalysts (5, 10, 25 wt% Ni) and a nickel over alumina (Ni/Al2O3) commercial catalyst. The features of the NiO/MWCNTs catalysts were studied trough FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy, N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy measurements. The results evidenced that optimum relation between Ni content, Ni dispersion, and particle size played a main role in the catalyst performance, rendering the 20% NiO/MWCNT as the most promising, among the catalysts studied, for the steam reforming of propane.