CO2 reforming of methane on Al2O3-supported Ni,Co catalysts prepared by Sol-gel method

Abstract

Syngas is a main product from dry reforming of methane (DRM) which is efficient reaction to convert two main greenhouse gases (CH4 and CO2) into hydrogen and carbon monoxide with H2/CO ratio equal to 1. This study investigated the bimetallic NiCo on alumina-supported catalysts prepared by sol-gel method with different metal loading (7.5%Ni7.5%Co/Al2O3 or 1Ni1Co/Al2O3, 10%Ni5%Co/Al2O3 or 2Ni1Co/Al2O3, 11.25%Ni3.75%Co/Al2O3 or 3Ni1Co/Al2O3) and compared the optimal bimetallic catalyst with monometallic Ni/Al2O3 (15wt.%) and Co/Al2O3 (15wt.%). The synthesized catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2-physisorption, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), NH3 Temperature Programmed Desorption (NH3-TPD), temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), Thermo gravimetric analyze (TGA), and CO-chemisorption. The catalysts were used on DRM with composition of 50:50 (vol%) feed CH4:CO2 under atmospheric pressure at 700 °C. The bimetallic catalyst 3Ni1Co/Al2O3 exhibited the highest activities with H2 selectivity of 41%, CH4 conversion of 74%, CO conversion of 79%, high metal dispersion and high specific surface area. Moreover, the 3Ni1Co had high acceptable amount of carbon deposition and can be properly used for long term.