Carbon Dioxide Reforming of Methane over Ni Catalysts Supported on Al2O3 Modified with La2O3, MgO, and CaO

The preparation of synthesis gas from carbon dioxide reforming of methane (CDR) has attracted increasing attention. The present review mainly focuses on CDR to produce synthesis gas over Ni/MO_x/Al₂O₃ (X = La, Mg, Ca) catalysts. From the examination of various supported nickel catalysts, the promotional effects of La₂O₃, MgO, and CaO have been found. The addition of promoters to Al₂O₃-supported nickel catalysts enhances the catalytic activity as well as stability. The catalytic performance is strongly dependent on the loading amount of promoters. For example, the highest CH₄ and CO₂ conversion were obtained when the ratios of metal M to Al were in the range of 0.04–0.06. In the case of Ni/La₂O₃/Al₂O₃ catalyst, the highest CH₄ conversion (96%) and CO₂ conversion (97%) was achieved with the catalyst (La/Al = 0.05 (atom/atom)). For Ni/CaO/Al₂O₃ catalyst, the catalyst with Ca/Al = 0.04 (atom/atom) exhibited the highest CH₄ conversion (91%) and CO₂ conversion (92%) among the catalysts with various CaO content. Also, Ni/MgO/Al₂O₃ catalyst with Mg/Al = 0.06 (atom/atom) showed the highest CH₄ conversion (89%) and CO₂ conversion (90%) among the catalysts with various Mg/Al ratios. Thus it is most likely that the optimal ratios of M to Al for the highest activities of the catalysts are related to the highly dispersed metal species. In addition, the improved catalytic performance of Al₂O₃-supported nickel catalysts promoted with metal oxides is due to the strong interaction between Ni and metal oxide, the stabilization of metal oxide on Al₂O₃ and the basic property of metal oxide to prevent carbon formation.     

Shielded Sliding Discharge-Assisted Hydrocarbon Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx over Ag/Al2O3 Catalysts Using Diesel as a Reductant

The nonthermal plasma generated in a shielded sliding discharge reactor was used to reform diesel for the hydrocarbon-selective catalytic reduction (HC-SCR) of NO_x on Ag/Al₂O₃ catalysts. Compared with raw diesel, the reformed diesel enhanced the NO_x reduction efficiency, mitigated hydrocarbon poisoning of the catalyst and reduced the fuel penalty for the HC-SCR reaction. The NO_x conversion values obtained with a commercial Ag/Al₂O₃ catalyst exceeded that of a 2.0 wt% Ag/Al₂O₃ catalyst prepared by wet impregnation. A significant amount of NH₃ was produced as a by-product during the HC-SCR reaction, which suggests that further NO_x conversion enhancement can be achieved by placing a second NH₃-SCR catalyst in series with the Ag/Al₂O₃ catalyst.     

Surface Reaction Kinetics of the Oxidation and Reforming of CH4 over Rh/Al2O3 Catalysts

An 48‐step sur face reaction mechanism with thermodynamic consistent kinetic data is presented for the catalytic conversion of the gaseous chemical system H₂/O₂/H₂O/CO/CO₂/CH₄ over Rh/Al₂O₃ catalysts. Total and partial oxidation as well as steam reforming and dry reforming of methane over Rh catalysts is studied experimentally and numerically at varying temperature and composition. The results are used to extend the kinetic schemes we developed for H₂ oxidation, CO oxidation kinetics, and the water‐gas‐shift reactions in former studies. Aside from the experiments in a stagnation‐flow reactor presented here, we modeled a number of experiments from the literature to test the newly established kinetic scheme.     

A novel PdNi/Al2O3 catalyst prepared by galvanic deposition for low temperature methane combustion

Galvanic deposition method was used to prepare the Pd/Ni-Al₂O₃-GD catalyst for the combustion of methane under lean conditions. The new catalyst and compared catalysts (Pd/Al₂O₃-IW, Pd-Ni/Al₂O₃-IW, Pd/Ni-Al₂O₃-IW) prepared by incipient wetness impregnation were characterized by N₂-physisorption, XRD and TEM to clarify particle size and size distribution of palladium species. Combined O₂-TPD and XPS results with the catalytic data, it shows that the surface palladium species with low valence exhibits better combustion performance due to their stronger interaction with support. The results indicate that the galvanic deposition method is an effective route to prepare efficient catalyst for methane combustion, and it also provides useful information for improving the present commercial catalyst.     

Ni/Al2O3 catalysts for CO methanation: Effect of Al2O3 supports calcined at different temperatures

The correlation between phase structures and surface acidity of Al₂O₃ supports calcined at different temperatures and the catalytic performance of Ni/Al₂O₃ catalysts in the production of synthetic natural gas (SNG) via CO methanation was systematically investigated. A series of 10 wt% NiO/Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared by the conventional impregnation method, and the phase structures and surface acidity of Al₂O₃ supports were adjusted by calcining the commercial γ-Al₂O₃ at different temperatures (600–1200 °C). CO methanation reaction was carried out in the temperature range of 300–600 °C at different weight hourly space velocities (WHSV = 30000 and 120000 mL·g^?1·h^?1) and pressures (0.1 and 3.0 MPa). It was found that high calcination temperature not only led to the growth in Ni particle size, but also weakened the interaction between Ni nanoparticles and Al₂O₃ supports due to the rapid decrease of the specific surface area and acidity of Al₂O₃ supports. Interestingly, Ni catalysts supported on Al₂O₃ calcined at 1200 °C (Ni/Al₂O₃-1200) exhibited the best catalytic activity for CO methanation under different reaction conditions. Lifetime reaction tests also indicated that Ni/Al₂O₃-1200 was the most active and stable catalyst compared with the other three catalysts, whose supports were calcined at lower temperatures (600, 800 and 1000 °C). These findings would therefore be helpful to develop Ni/Al₂O₃ methanation catalyst for SNG production.     

Nox Reduction Characteristics for Different Composition Ratios of Pt/Al2O3, Rh/Al2O3 Catalyst Mixtures Using Model Gas as Reformates

This study investigated the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) with hydrocarbon in the presence of excess oxygen using various composition ratios of Pt/Al₂O₃, Rh/Al₂O₃ catalyst mixtures. The composition ratios were 1:1, 1:2, 2:1, 1:3 and 3:1 of 1 wt% Pt/Al₂O₃ and Rh/Al₂O₃, which are known to exhibit efficient NO_x reduction at low and high temperatures among the noble metal catalysts. Experiments conducted on a single reductant revealed that more efficient NO_x conversion could be obtained when Pt/Al₂O₃ and Rh/Al₂O₃ were mixed at a ratio of 3:1, rather than 1:1 or 1:3. In a single reductant condition, C₃H₆ 800 ppm (2400 ppmC₁) and 400 ppm (1200 ppmC₁) exhibited 50% and 38% NO_x conversion efficiency at 200°C, respectively. However, NO_x conversion efficiency gradually decreased when temperatures were increased above 250°C. With regard to Pt/Al₂O₃ and Rh/Al₂O₃ ratio, higher ratios of Rh/Al₂O₃ activated this Pt+Rh/Al₂O₃ catalyst in the high temperature range.     

Effects of Mo2C loading and H2S concentration on Mo2C/Al2O3 catalyst applied in sulfur‐resistant methanation

Mo₂C/Al₂O₃ catalyst was prepared by the impregnation method with urotropine and ammonium paramolybdate. The catalytic effect of Mo₂C as a typical transition‐metal carbide in sulfur‐resistant methanation was studied. The catalysts prepared were characterized by N₂ adsorption–desorption, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, H₂‐temperature‐programmed reduction, and Raman spectra, with the results confirming the formation of β‐molybdenum carbide on the surface of the catalysts. Studies on catalysts with different loading doses indicate that the optimal loading of Mo₂C/Al₂O₃ is about 15 wt.%, which enables CO conversion rate of up to 47%, with methane selectivity of up to 53%. This work further explored the effect of different concentrations of H₂S in the raw gas on the performance of the catalyst, with the results showing that high concentration of H₂S (>1500 ppm) can lead to sulfuration of active species on the catalyst, while resulting in a decrease in the catalytic activity.     

Influence of Support Type and Metal Loading in Methane Decomposition over Iron Catalyst for Hydrogen Production

Natural gas resources, stimulate the method of catalytic methane decomposition. Hydrogen is a superb energy carrier and integral component of the present energy systems, while carbon nanotubes exhibit remarkable chemical and physical properties. The reaction was run at 700 °C in a fixed bed reactor. Catalyst calcination and reduction were done at 500 °C. MgO, TiO₂ and Al₂O₃ supported catalysts were prepared using a co‐precipitation method. Catalysts of different iron loadings were characterized with BET, TGA, XRD, H₂‐TPR and TEM. The catalyst characterization revealed the formation of multi‐walled nanotubes. Alternatively, time on stream tests of supported catalyst at 700 °C revealed the relative profiles of methane conversions increased as the %Fe loading was increased. Higher %Fe loadings decreased surface area of the catalyst. Iron catalyst supported with Al₂O₃ exhibited somewhat higher catalytic activity compared with MgO and TiO₂ supported catalysts when above 35% Fe loading was used. CH₄ conversion of 69% was obtained utilizing 60% Fe/Al₂O₃ catalyst. Alternatively, Fe/MgO catalysts gave the highest initial conversions when iron loading below 30% was employed. Indeed, catalysts with 15% Fe/MgO gave 63% conversion and good stability for 1 h time on stream. Inappropriateness of Fe/TiO₂ catalysts in the catalytic methane decomposition was observed.     

Untersuchungen zur temperaturprogrammierten Reduktion und zur katalytischen Wirksamkeit von Ni/Al2O3

Investigations of Temperature-programmed Reduction and of Catalytic Activity of Ni/Al₂O₃ Different Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared by varying the Ni content and the temperature of the thermal pretreatment. These samples were investigated by the TPR technique and by the catalytic conversion of cyclohexane. Two species of oxidized Ni were formed during the calcination, easily reducible “bulk” NiO and heavily reducible “fixed” NiO. The proportion of fixed NiO increases with increasing calcination temperature and with decreasing Ni content. The selectivity of the cyclohexane conversion is shifted from hydrogenolytic methane formation towards dehydrogenating benzene formation by catalysts containing increasing amounts of fixed NiO. This shift is explained by an ensemble effect.     

Characterization of La-promoted Ni/Al2O3 catalysts for hydrogen production from glycerol dry reforming

In the current paper, dry (CO₂)-reforming of glycerol, a new reforming route, was carried out over alumina (Al₂O₃)-supported, non-promoted and lanthanum-promoted nickel (Ni) catalysts. Both sets of catalysts were synthesized via a wet co-impregnation procedure. Physicochemical characterization of the catalysts showed that the promoted catalyst possessed smaller metal crystallite size, hence higher metal dispersion compared to the virgin Ni/Al₂O₃ catalyst. This was also corroborated by the surface images captured by the FESEM analysis. From temperature-programmed calcination analysis, the derivative weight profiles revealed two peaks, which represent a water elimination peak at a temperature range of 373 to 473 K followed by nickel nitrate decomposition from 473 to 573 K. In addition, BET surface area measurements gave 85.0 m²·g⁻¹ for the non-promoted Ni catalyst, whilst the promoted catalysts showed an average of 1% to 6% improvement depending on the La loadings. Significantly, reaction studies at 873 K showed that glycerol dry reforming successfully produced H₂. The 2%La-Ni/Al₂O₃ catalyst, which possessed the largest BET surface area, gave an optimum H₂ generation (9.70%) at a glycerol conversion of 24.5%.     

Direct Oxidation of Methane to Methanol Over Cu-Based Catalyst in an AC Dielectric Barrier Discharge

In this paper, the conversion of methane to methanol on CuO/Al₂O₃ and Mo–CuO/Al₂O₃ catalysts in a plasma reactor was tested. A comparison between catalytic and plasma-catalytic systems had been made in tested temperature range of 50–300°C. Experimental results showed that plasma-catalytic system demonstrated a much better methane conversion than catalytic system in tested temperature range and Mo–CuO/Al₂O₃ revealed a higher catalytic activity than CuO/Al₂O₃ for methanol synthesis. Furthermore, an Arrhenius plot was made in order to deduce the mechanism of plasma activation, which revealed that the presence of plasma decreased the activation energy for both catalysts. In the case of Mo-CuO/Al₂O₃ catalyst, the enhanced activity for methanol synthesis was assumed due to the oxygen vacancies on Mo–CuO/Al₂O₃ catalyst, which can utilize plasma-induced species to improve the catalytic efficiency.     

Synergistic effects of potassium promoter and carbon fibers on direct synthesis of isobutanol from syngas over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts obtained from hydrotalcite-like compounds

The Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalysts (CuZnAl) can be utilized to directly synthesize higher alcohols from syngas under mild conditions. Carbon fibers (CFs) are widely used as a catalyst supporter, and potassium is usually used as a good electron assistant for charge transfer to the active phase of the catalyst. However, little is known about the combined effects of CFs and potassium on Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalysts. In this work, the CuZnAl catalysts supported on activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were prepared by a co-precipitation method, and then the catalysts were modified by potassium. The catalytic performances of K-modified CuZnAl and composites containing ACFs and CuZnAl were evaluated. Addition of ACFs and/or potassium increased CO conversion and selectivity for isobutanol compared with pure CuZnAl. All the samples were characterized by BET, XRD, SEM–EDS, CO–TPD, and Raman spectroscopy to further disclose the reason for better catalytic performance of the catalysts with ACFs and/or potassium. We found that addition of ACFs or potassium promotes moderate CO adsorption and formation of the active phase (CuO/ZnO solid solution) during alcohol synthesis, which facilitates synthesis of higher alcohols and CO conversion. As a result, ACFs and potassium exhibited synergistic effects on improvement of CO conversion and selectivity for isobutanol.     

Plasma treatment of Ni and Pt catalysts for partial oxidation of methane

Summary In this work DBD (dielectric barrier discharge) plasma treatments of 10%Ni/Al₂O₃and 1%Pt/Al₂O₃catalysts have been conducted to study the principles of plasma treatment of supported catalysts. It was found that 10%Ni/Al₂O₃and 1%Pt/Al₂O₃catalysts treated by plasma exhibit a higher catalytic activity and a better stability than the catalysts prepared without plasma treatment. Methane conversion over the plasma treated catalyst is 3-5% higher than on untreated catalysts. The metal species dispersion also increased after plasma treatment, which leads to improvement of the interaction between active species and supports, the catalytic activities and the resistance to carbon deposition.</o:p>     

Effect of the Electric Conductivity of a Catalyst on Methane Activation in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactor

The influence of catalyst electric conductivity on methane activation in a planar-type dielectric barrier discharge reactor is investigated by empirically comparing the degree of methane conversion of bare Al₂O₃ with that of Pt/Al₂O₃; from this, it is determined that the latter catalyst converts less methane owing to the presence of Pt. Calculations and comparisons of electric fields with and without Pt show that the presence of a Pt catalyst results in a lower electric field than does bare Al₂O₃. An analysis of product gases based on the correlation between the fragmentation of radicals and the electric field also indicates that the electric field is decreased by using Pt. From these results, it can be concluded that the synergies between the plasma and the conductive catalysts need to be reassessed for different electric field conditions, and that further studies of non-conductive catalysts that can enhance methane activation and synergistic effects are needed.     

Production of Hydrogen from Methane by a CO2 Emission-Suppressed Process: Methane Decomposition and Gasification of Carbon Nanofibers

Catalytic methane decomposition into hydrogen and carbon nanofibers and the oxidations of carbon nanofibers with CO₂, H₂O and O₂ were overviewed. Supported Ni catalysts (Ni/SiO₂, Ni/TiO₂ and Ni/carbon nanofiber) were effective for the methane decomposition. The activity and life of the supported Ni catalysts for methane decomposition strongly depended on the particle size of Ni metal on the catalysts. The modification of the catalysts with Pd enhanced the catalytic activity and life for methane decomposition. In particular, the supported Ni catalysts modified with Pd showed high turnover number of hydrogen formation at temperatures higher than 973 K with a high one-pass methane conversion (>70%). However, sooner or later, every catalyst completely lost their catalytic activities due to the carbon layer formation on active metal surfaces. In order to utilize a large quantity of the carbon nanofibers formed during methane decomposition as a chemical feedstock or a powdered fuel for heat generation, they were oxidized with CO₂, H₂O and O₂ into CO, synthesis gas and CO₂, respectively. In every case, the conversion of carbon was greater than 95%. These oxidations of carbon nanofibers recovered or enhanced the initial activities of the supported Ni catalysts for methane decomposition.     

Catalytic Performance and Characterization of Pt‐Co/Al2O3 Catalysts for CO2 Reforming of CH4 to Synthesis Gas

Pt‐Co/Al₂O₂ catalyst has been studied for CO₂ reforming of CH₄ to synthesis gas. It was found that the catalytic performance of me catalyst was sensitive to calcination temperature. When Co/Al₂O₃ was calcined at 1473 K prior to adding a small amount of Pt to it, the resulting bimetallic catalyst showed high activity, optimal stability and excellent resistance to carbon deposition, which was more effective to the reaction than Co/Al₂O₃ and Pt/Al₂O₃ catalysts. At lower metal loading, catalyst activity decreased in the following order: Pt‐Co/ Al₂O₃ > Pt/Al₂O₃ > Co/Al₂O₃. With 9% Co, the Co/Al₂O₃ calcined at 923 K was also active for CO₂ reforming of CH₄, however, its carbon formation was much more fast man that of the Pt‐Co/Al₂O₃ catalyst. The XRD results indicated that Pt species well dispersed over the bimetallic catalyst. Its high dispersion was related to the presence of CoAl₂O₄, formed during calcining of Co/Al₂O₃ at high temperature before Pt addition. Promoted by Pt, Co/Al₂O₄ in the catalyst could be reduced partially even at 923 K, the temperature of pre‐reduction for the reaction, confirmed by TPR. Based on these results, it was considered that the zerovalent platinum with high dispersion over the catalyst surface and the zerovalent cobalt resulting from Co/Al₂O₄ reduction are responsible for high activity of the Pt‐Co/Al₂O₃ catalyst, and the remain Co/Al₂O₄ is beneficial to suppression of carbon deposition over the catalyst.     

SiO2和Al2O3负载的Ni基催化剂在甲烷干重整中的催化性能差异

CH₄与CO₂干重整反应对于环境保护和天然气资源的合理利用具有重要意义。SiO₂和Al₂O₃是适用于甲烷干重整反应的两种典型的催化剂载体。为了阐明这两种载体对催化剂性能的影响,本研究采用等体积浸渍法制备了Ni/Al₂O₃和Ni/SiO₂催化剂,并利用BET、TEM、H₂-TPR、XRD、TG和Raman等技术对还原和反应后的催化剂进行了表征。结果表明,由于载体的性质不同,Ni基催化剂在甲烷干重整中的催化性能也不同。Ni/SiO₂催化剂的初始活性较高,但由于其金属-载体相互作用较弱,催化稳定性较差,在800℃下反应15h其催化活性急剧下降;较弱的金属-载体相互作用使得Ni/SiO₂催化剂上的Ni颗粒较大,有利于积炭前驱物种的生成,导致催化剂快速失活。而对于Ni/Al₂O₃催化剂,金属-载体相互作用较强,Ni颗粒较小,但由于Ni与Al₂O₃生成了NiAl_xO_y物种,有效活性位减少,其催化活性相对较低,但催化稳定性较好,干重整反应进行50h其活性保持稳定;Ni与Al₂O₃之间较强的相互作用有利于形成小且稳定的Ni粒子,能减少积炭,因而具有优异的催化稳定性。     

Praseodymium Oxide Modified CeO2/Al2O3 Catalyst for Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO by NH3

A series of CeO₂/Al₂O₃ catalysts was modified with praseodymium oxide using an extrusion method. The catalytic activities of the obtained catalysts were measured for the selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH₃ to screen suitable addition of praseodymium oxide. These samples were characterized by XRD, N₂‐BET, NH₃‐TPD, NO‐TPD, Py‐IR, H₂‐TPR, Raman spectra and XPS, respectively. Results showed the optimal catalyst with the Pr/Ce molar ratio of 0.10 exhibited more than 90% NO conversion in a wide temperature range of 290–425°C under GHSV of 5000 h^?1. The number of Lewis acid sites and the chemisorbed oxygen concentration of the catalysts would increase with the Pr incorporation, which was favorable for the excellent catalytic performance. In addition, the Pr incorporation inhibited growth of the Al₂O₃ crystal particles and led to the lattice expansion of CeO₂, which increased catalytic activity. The results implied that the higher chemisorbed oxygen concentrations and the more Lewis acid sites were conductive to obtain the excellent SCR activity.     

Iron Oxide Supported on Al2O3 Catalyst for Methane Decomposition Reaction: Effect of MgO Additive and Calcination Temperature

Production of hydrogen is a challenging task and have significant impact in the recent scenario. The alumina supported iron oxide nanoparticle synthesized using non‐ionic surfactant Triton‐X was found very effective for steady production of hydrogen through methane decomposition reaction. The high surface area, easily reducible catalyst calcined at 500 °C and 800 °C temperature showed steady activity towards methane decomposition reaction. At a higher reaction temperature there was catalyst deactivation. The doping of MgO facilitated particle growth rendering the poor catalytic activity. The TPR study showed that reducibility of TPR was difficult in presence of MgO additive. The formation of Fe? Mg? Al solid solution confirmed by XRD study was found mainly responsible for the lower catalytic activity. The bamboo‐shaped carbon nanotube formed from 20 % Fe/Al₂O₃ catalyst which is mainly because of the poor wetting property of quasi‐liquid metal and carbon nanotube.     

Catalytic activities of Mo-modified Ni/Al2O3 catalysts for thioetherification of mercaptans and di-olefins in fluid catalytic cracking naphtha

A series of molybdenum-modified Ni/Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared, and their catalytic activities and stabilities for thioetherification of mercaptans and di-olefins in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) naphtha were investigated. The sulfided catalyst samples were characterized by a range of physical techniques. The results showed that the addition of Mo to Ni catalysts could improve the degree of dispersion of Ni species in the carrier, inhibit the formation of NiAl₂O₄ crystallites, enhance the presulfidation degree of the metals, and change the chemical environment and electronic structure of Ni. These effects could significantly improve the activity of the Ni/Al₂O₃ catalysts for thioetherification in FCC naphtha. Furthermore, addition of a small amount of Mo improved the di-olefin selective hydrogenation ability of the Ni/Al₂O₃ catalyst and significantly reduced coke formation during the reaction.