Ru incorporated Ni–MCM-41 mesoporous catalysts for dry reforming of methane: Effects of Mg addition, feed composition and temperature

Abstract

Nickel incorporated MCM-41-like mesoporous materials, which were synthesized following a one-pot hydrothermal route, were promoted by Ru and Mg in order to improve their catalytic performances for dry reforming of methane. In this study, Ni–MCM-41 based catalysts (with a Ni/Si molar ratio of 0.2), containing different amounts of Ru (0.5–3.0 wt%) and Mg (1 and 5 wt%) were prepared by using sequential impregnation of Ru and Mg into Ni–MCM-41. Dry reforming of methane was studied in a tubular flow reactor in the temperature range of 500–600 °C with different CH 4/CO 2 ratios in the feed stream. Quite high hydrogen yield values and improved stability of these catalysts indicated the promoting effects of Ru for the Ni–MCM-41 type catalysts. Ru incorporation (1.0% Ru) was shown to improve H 2 yields. Mg impregnation into 1.0Ru@Ni–MCM-41 improved catalytic performance by increasing CH 4 conversion and decreasing the contribution of reverse water gas shift reaction, especially at initial times (first 60 min). Coke formation by decomposition of CH 4 contributed to the hydrogen selectivity, but did not cause significant change in catalytic performance, especially at longer reaction times.