Nickel–Alumina Catalysts in the Reaction of Carbon Dioxide Re-Forming of Methane under Thermal and Microwave Heating

Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research

5 years ago

Nickel–Alumina Catalysts in the Reaction of Carbon Dioxide Re-Forming of Methane under Thermal and Microwave Heating

Olga P. Tkachenko, Andrei L. Tarasov, Leonid M. Kustov, Gennady I. Kapustin

The activity of 10% Ni/Al₂O₃ and 10% Ni/Al₂O₃-F catalysts prepared by sol–gel method was studied in the carbon dioxide methane re-forming under thermal and microwave heating. It is found that replacement of thermal for microwave heating results in stable activity restoration with substantial suppression of coke formation. Thermodynamic calculation of reactants and products equilibrium concentrations in the main and side reactions, including soot formation, shows that in the microwave-activated process of carbon dioxide methane re-forming on 10% Ni/Al₂O₃-F the reactions of carbon and perhaps methane steam re-forming are significantly intensified. Physicochemical methods (DRIFT spectroscopy, adsorption measurements by the BET method) revealed differences in surface properties of catalysts (specific surface area, pore volume, acidity), as well as electronic state of nickel. The results obtained demonstrate the perspectives of the microwave activation of the reactions of carbon dioxide re-forming not only in the case of methane but also in the cases of ethane and propane, where the problem of coke formation and catalyst deactivation is even more significant.

Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.7b01254

DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.7b01254