CO2 mitigation by carbon nanotube formation during dry reforming of methane analyzed by factorial design combined with response surface methodology

• Published in: Chinese journal of catalysis 2014-04, Vol.35 (4), p.514-523
• Main Authors: Braga, Tiago P., Santos, Regina C.R., Sales, Barbara M.C., da Silva, Bruno R., Pinheiro, Antônio N., Leite, Edson R., Valentini, Antoninho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon dioxide; Carbon nanotube; Factorial design; Methane; Reforming
• ISSN: 1872-2067; 0253-9837; 1872-2067
• DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(14)60018-8

A factorial experimental design was combined with response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize the catalyzed CO2 consumption by coke deposition and syngas production during the dry reforming of CH4. The CH4/CO2 feed ratio and the reaction temperature were chosen as the variables, and the selected responses were CH4 and CO2 conversion, the H2/CO ratio, and coke deposition. The optimal reaction conditions were found to be a CH4/CO2 feed ratio of approximately 3 at 700 °C, producing a large quantity of coke and realizing high CO2 conversion. Furthermore, Raman results showed that the CH4/CO2 ratio and reaction temperature affect the system's response, particularly the characteristics of the coke produced, which indicates the formation of carbon nanotubes and amorphous carbon. The catalytic CH4 dry reforming reaction is a means of fixing CO2 producing syngas and carbon nanotubes. This study shows that it is possible to match a large consumption of CO2 with the formation of a large amount of carbon nanotubes.