Acid washed lignite char supported bimetallic Ni-Co catalyst for low temperature catalytic reforming of corncob derived volatiles

• Published in: Energy conversion and management 2019-09, Vol.196, p.1257-1266
• Main Authors: Yang, Fei-Long, Cao, Jing-Pei, Zhao, Xiao-Yan, Ren, Jie, Tang, Wen, Huang, Xin, Feng, Xiao-Bo, Zhao, Ming, Cui, Xin, Wei, Xian-Yong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Bimetals; Catalysis; Catalysts; Catalytic reforming; Chromium; Gas composition; Lignite; Low temperature; Nickel; Pyrolysis; Reforming; Selectivity; Shift reaction; Steam; Synergy; Synthesis gas; Volatile compounds; Volatiles; Water gas
• ISSN: 0196-8904; 1879-2227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2019.06.075

[Display omitted] •Acid washed lignite loaded Ni-Co for low temperature reforming of corncob volatiles.•Ni-10%Co/lignite char exhibited a high metallic dispersion with small particle size.•Bimetallic Ni-10%Co/lignite char showed superior tar reforming activity at 450 °C.•The synergy of Ni and Co tuned the composition of syngas producing high purity H2. Acid washed Shengli lignite (AWSL) supported Ni, Co and Ni-Co catalysts were prepared, characterized and evaluated in catalytic reforming (CR) of corncob pyrolysis volatiles at a relatively low catalytic temperature of 450 °C. Moreover, the production and selectivity of H2 were also investigated. Amongst the catalysts studied, bimetallic Ni-10%Co/AWSL exhibited the most remarkable activity, yielding 36.3 mmol H2/g corncob and 710 μmol min−1 g−1 formation rate of syngas (H2 + CO + 4CH4) with trace of tar. It also tuned the gas composition and showed the greatest selectivity of H2 due to the promotion of the water gas shift reaction (with H2 accounting for the maximum 50.3% and 63% under Ar and steam atmosphere, respectively). Regardless of the loss of specific surface area, the superior performance of Ni-Co based catalysts under mild circumstance was attributed to the better reducibility and electronic properties along with a high dispersion of active metal. Additionally, the synergy of Ni and Co contributed to the combined and enlarged activity for CR of corncob volatiles and great selectivity for H2-rich syngas under moderate condition.