Syngas production employing nickel on alumina‐magnesia supported catalyst via dry methane reforming

• Published in: Materialwissenschaft und Werkstofftechnik 2021-10, Vol.52 (10), p.1090-1100
• Main Authors: Yusuf, M., Farooqi, A.S., Ying, Y.X., Keong, L.K., Alam, M.A., Hellgardt, K., Abdullah, B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum oxide; Bimetallic oxide; Bimetalloxid; Bimetals; Carbon dioxide; Catalysts; Co-Ausscheidung; Co-precipitation; Coke; Dry methane reforming; Electron microscopy; Field emission microscopy; Impregnation; Imprägnierung; Magnesium oxide; Methane; Microscopy; Nickel; Nickel loading; Nickelzuschlag; Pore size; Reforming; Synthesis gas; Trockenmethanreformierung
• ISSN: 0933-5137; 1521-4052
• DOI: 10.1002/mawe.202000305

Nickel supported on alumina‐magnesia bimetallic oxide support (Ni/Al2O3‐MgO) nano‐catalysts were prepared by the co‐precipitation followed by impregnation (two steps) method separately and tested for the dry methane reforming. The optimum bimetallic oxide catalyst support ratio (i. e., alumina: magnesia) is tested and it has been found that alumina:magnesia ratio of 1 : 2 showed the most stable results. The effect of nickel loading has been studied by impregnating the bimetallic oxide support with nickel as 10 wt.%, 12 wt.%, 14 wt.%, and 16 wt.%. It has been found that the catalyst containing 12 wt.% nickel showed the best activity in terms of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) percentage conversions, syngas (H2:CO) ratio, lowest coke formation and stability for dry methane reforming at 800 °C, 1 atm and methane: carbon dioxide ratio of unity. The Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller surface area and pore size analysis of fresh catalyst has been carried out. The x‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive x‐ray and elemental mapping analysis for fresh and spent catalysts has been obtained confirming the coke formation during the reaction. Nickel on alumina is an extensively used catalyst for dry methane reforming, but it suffers coking and sintering at high temperatures. Hence, using a bimetallic metal oxide support with optimum active metal loading is a promising approach to boost the process. Alumina‐magnesia oxide support with ratio of 1 : 2 and 12 wt.% nickel loading has shown optimum performance for dry methane reforming at 800 °C.