Syngas Production from Reforming of Methane with CO2 and O2 over LaNi1–xCoxO3 Perovskites

Abstract

Abstract The LaNi1–xCoxO3 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1) perovskites were prepared by the citrate sol–gel method. The prepared compounds were characterized by using XRD, BET, ICP, SEM, EDS, TEM, TPR and TGA techniques, under the condition of as-synthesized and used samples. The results showed that the highly homogeneous and pure solids with particle sizes in the range of nanometers were obtained through this synthesis method. The XRD patterns of fresh catalysts indicated the formation of well-crystallized perovskite structure with LaNiO3 and LaCoO3 as the main phases present on the solids depending on the amount of Co-substitution. TPR analysis revealed that the reduction of the solids was more difficult when increasing the degree of substitution (x). The effects of the partial substitution of Ni by Co and reaction temperatures at atmospheric pressure were investigated in the combined reforming of methane with CO2 and O2 (CRM), after reduction of the samples under hydrogen. LaNiO3 exhibited high activity and selectivity without coke formation between all of the studied perovskites. For LaNi1–xCoxO3 perovskites, it was observed a trend to decrease the catalytic activity with increasing the Co-doping level.