SYNGAS PRODUCTION BY DRY REFORMING AND BI-REFORMING OF METHANE OVER SOL-GEL MADE Со-Rh/AL2O3 BIMETALLIC CATALYSTS

Abstract

The most important global challenge of concern for humanity is the change in the Earth's climate due to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this regard, carbon dioxide reforming of methane is once again attracting more attention as the process uses two major greenhouse gases - methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) as feedstock. The reaction product of which is synthesis gas, which is the primary building block to produce various valuable products. Rapid catalyst deactivation due to coking makes industrial development of this process difficult. Additionally, the low H2/CO ratio in synthesis gas, usually below 1.0, limits its further utilization. To solve these issues, it is necessary to create new effective coking-resistant catalysts, improve their chemical and structural composition and preparation methods, and optimize the process conditions. In this work, 5%Co-Rh/Al2O3, a bimetallic catalyst prepared by the sol-gel method (modified Pechini method) was studied in the processes of carbon dioxide and combined steam-carbon dioxide reforming of methane. It was shown that 5%Co-Rh(98:2)/Al2O3 sol-gel catalyst had a high activity in the carbon dioxide reforming of methane. The introduction of steam into the initial CH4-CO2 feedstock allows the regulation of the composition of the produced synthesis gas depending on the amount of water. At t=8000 , the degree of methane conversion is 92.5-95.8%, carbon dioxide – 85.6-97.4%, and H2/CO ratio = 1.0-2.1 depending on the amount of steam added.