Nickel Supported Modified Ceria Zirconia Lanthanum/ Praseodymium/Yttrium Oxides Catalysts for Syngas Production through Dry Methane Reforming

Abstract

Dry methane reforming (DRM) has recently received considerable attention as a perspective CO2 utilization technology allowing the valorization natural gas and biogas. The commercialization of the DRM process depends on the use of more stable and active catalysts. The nickel-based catalysts are commonly used in the DRM reaction as they are effective in hydrogen production and nickel is a less expensive material compared to noble metals. However, Ni-based catalysts undergo fast deactivation. The stability of nickel catalysts in DRM reaction may be enhanced by introduction of supports or promoters with basic and/or redox properties. Thus, in this work, Ceria-Zirconia supports were modified by rare earth metals such as Lanthanum, Praseodymium and Yttrium in order to stabilize the raw materials and to promote the catalytic activity. Nickel was then impregnated on such supports and the modified catalysts were tested in dry methane reforming for syngas production since it was already reported that a promotion with nickel and yttrium lead to better activity in DRM catalytic tests over mesoporous materials. All promoted catalysts were characterized by the means of SBET, XRD, TEM, H2-TPR, CO2-TPD in order to define the physical, textural and chemical properties. The influence of basicity on the catalytic activity was clearly evidenced. Moreover, the influence of Nickel loading was also studied. It was evidenced that an optimal Ni loading is needed in order to reach higher activity and stability in DRM.