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.     

The effect of spinel type support FeAlO<Subscript>3</Subscript>, ZnAl<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>, CrAl<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript> on physicochemical properties of Cu,Ag, Au,Ru supported catalysts for methanol synthesis

The comparative study of the role of binary oxide support on catalyst physico-chemical properties and performance in methanol synthesis were undertaken and the spinel like type structures (ZnAl₂O₄, FeAlO₃, CrAl₃O₆) were prepared and used as the supports for 5% metal (Cu, Ag, Au, Ru) dispersed catalysts. The monometallic 5% Cu/support and bimetallic 1% Au (or 1% Ru)-5% Cu/support (Al₂O₃, ZnAl₂O₄, FeAlO₃, CrAl₃O₆) catalysts were investigated by BET, XRD and TPR methods. Activity tests in methanol synthesis of CO and CO₂ mixture hydrogenation were carried out. The order of Cu/support catalysts activity in methanol synthesis: CrAl₃O{ia6} > FeAlO₃ > ZnAl₂O₄ is conditioned by their reducibility in hydrogen at low temperature. Gold appeared more efficient than ruthenium in promotion of Cu/support catalysts. Published in Russian in Kinetika i Kataliz, 2009, Vol. 50, No. 2, pp. 242–248. The article is published in the original.     

Metallosilicates as supports of Co catalysts for the synthesis of liquid hydrocarbons from CO and H2

The effect of the nature of the silicate support on the activity and selectivity of 10%. Co/M silicate catalysts (where M=Cu, Zn, Ce, Ti, Hf, La, Al, Zr, Co, Mg) in the synthesis of hydrocarbons from CO and H₂ has been established. Co and Zr catalysts have been shown to provide the highest catalytic efficiency. The yield of liquid hydrocarbons in their presence exceeds 120 g m^–3.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 480–482, March, 1993.     

Time-on stream behavior of Pd-, Co-, and Mn-zeolite catalysts supported on metal blocks in high-temperature methane oxidation

Stability of the Pd-, Co-, and Mn-zeolite catalysts supported on metal blocks was studied in high-temperature methane oxidation. The temperature regions were found in which the starting catalysts exhibit stable performance. The temperature was determined at which a partial deactivation is followed by stabilization of catalysts in reaction environment. In terms of specific activity, the partially deactivated Pd-zeolite catalyst is several times more active than conventional oxidation catalysts Pd/Al₂O₃, Pt/Al₂O₃, and the most active oxide CeO·6Al₂O₃.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2075–2078, October, 2004.     

Sol–Gel Synthesis of Membrane Mo<Subscript>2</Subscript>C/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> Catalysts with Different Architectures and Their Catalytic Activity in the Reaction of Carbon Dioxide Conversion of Methane

The methods of synthesis of composite membrane catalysts based on Mо₂C and Al₂O₃ support by a sol–gel method were developed. The samples of membrane catalysts with different architectures were developed. The difference in the catalytic activity of membrane catalysts in carbon dioxide conversion of methane depending on the porous structure and morphology of the catalytic layer was studied.     

Catalytic Methane Oxidation Over Pd Supported on Nanocrystalline and Polycrystalline TiO2 Mn3O4, CeO2 and ZrO2

The catalytic oxidation of methane has been examined over Pd supported on nanocrystalline (n-) and polycrystalline (p-) TiO₂, Mn₃O₄, CeO₂ and ZrO₂. In all cases the Pd supported on the nanocrystalline oxides performs better on a mass basis than Pd supported on the polycrystalline oxides. Conversion vs temperature curves indicate that n-ZrO₂ is more active than p-ZrO₂ and that calcining both n-ZrO₂ and p-ZrO₂ at 500°C produces better catalysts than calcining at 280°C. n-CeO₂ is a very good catalysts for methane oxidation, while p-CeO₂ is not, and Pd supported on n-CeO₂ performs much better than bare n-CeO₂ and somewhat better than Pd supported on p-CeO₂; Pd supported on n-Mn₃O₄ or p-Mn₃O₄ does not perform as well as CeO₂-supported Pd catalysts. The 5 wt.% Pd/n-ZrO₂ catalyst calcined at 500°C performs very well, achieving 100% conversion at 320°C for the reactor conditions used, while 5 wt.% Pd/n-CeO₂ exhibits initial activity at the lowest temperature of about 100°C. The best catalyst tested in this study is 30 wt.% Pd/n-TiO₂, which achieves 100% conversion at 300°C.     

Structure and Catalytic Properties of Ceria-based Nickel Catalysts for CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Reforming of Methane

Carbon dioxide reforming (CDR) of methane to synthesis gas over supported nickel catalysts has been reviewed. The present review mainly focuses on the advantage of ceria based nickel catalysts for the CDR of methane. Nickel catalysts supported on ceria–zirconia showed the highest activity for CDR than nickel supported on other oxides such as zirconia, ceria and alumina. The addition of zirconia to ceria enhances the catalytic activity as well as the catalyst stability. The catalytic performance also depends on the crystal structure of Ni–Ce–ZrO₂. For example, nickel catalysts co-precipitated with Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ having cubic phase gave synthesis gas with CH₄ conversion more than 97% at 800 °C and the activity was maintained for 100 h during the reaction. On the contrary, Ni–Ce–ZrO₂ having tetragonal phase (Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂) or mixed oxide phase (Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂) deactivated during the reaction due to carbon formation. The enhanced catalytic performance of co-precipitated catalyst is attributed to a combination effect of nano-crystalline nature of cubic Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ support and the finely dispersed nano size NiO _x crystallites, resulting in the intimate contact between Ni and Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ particles. The Ni/Ce–ZrO₂/θ–Al₂O₃ also exhibited high catalytic activity during CDR with a synthesis gas conversion more than 97% at 800 °C without significant deactivation for more than 40 h. The high stability of the catalyst is mainly ascribed to the beneficial pre-coating of Ce–ZrO₂ resulting in the existence of stable NiO _x species, a strong interaction between Ni and the support, and an abundance of mobile oxygen species in itself. TPR results further confirmed that NiO _x formation was more favorable than NiO or NiAl₂O₄ formation and further results suggested the existence of strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) between Ni and the support. Some of the important factors to optimize the CDR of methane such as reaction temperature, space velocity, feed CO₂/CH₄ ratio and H₂O and/or O₂ addition were also examined.     

Ru 前驱体对 Ru/MgO-CeO2 氨合成催化剂性能的影响

 分别以 K₂RuO₄, Ru(Ac)₃ 和 RuCl₃ 为 Ru 前驱体, 制备了 Ru/MgO-CeO₂ 催化剂, 并运用 X 射线衍射、X 射线荧光光谱, CO 吸附、N₂ 物理吸附和 H₂程序升温还原等技术对催化剂进行了表征, 考察了 Ru 前驱体对 Ru/MgO-CeO₂ 催化剂氨合成性能的影响. 结果表明, Ru 前驱体对载体 MgO-CeO₂ 和 Ru 的还原性能、氯残留量和催化剂比表面积的影响都很大, 从而导致催化剂的氨合成性能的不同. 其中以 K₂RuO₄ 为 Ru 前驱体制备的催化剂的载体和 Ru 容易还原, 无氯离子, 且比表面积较高, 因而催化剂活性和氨合成转换频率较高. 在 10 MPa, 425 °C, 10 000 h^-1 条件下, K₂RuO₄, Ru(Ac)₃ 和 RuCl₃ 作前驱体制备的催化剂上氨合成转换频率比为 1.33:1.05:1.     

Effects of the ratio of Fe to Co over Fe-CO/SiO2 bimetallic catalysts on their catalytic performance for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

The Fe-Co/SiO2 bimetallic catalysts with different ratios of Fe to Co were prepared by aqueous incipient wetness impregnation. The catalysts of 10%Fe:0%Co/SiO2, 10%Fe:6%Co/SiO2, 10%Fe:2%Co/SiO2, 10%Fe:10%Co/SiO2, 6%Fe:10%Co/SiO2, 2%Fe:10%Co/SiO2 and 0%Fe: 10%Co/SiO2 by mass were tested in a fixed reactor by the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Activity and hydrocarbon distribution were found to be determined by the ratio of iron to cobalt of the catalysts. Higher iron content inhibited the activity, whereas higher cobalt content enhanced the activity of the Fe:Co/SiO2 catalysts. On the other hand, for the catalysts of 10%Fe:6%Co/SiO2, 10%Fe:10%Co/SiO2, 6%Fe:10%Co/SiO2, and 2%Fe:10%Co/SiO2, the total C2–C4 fraction increased (from 10.65% to 26.78%) and C5+ fraction decreased (from 75.75% to 57.63%) at 523 K. Temperature programmed reduction revealed that the addition of cobalt enhanced the reducibility of the Fe:Co/SiO2 catalyst. Metal oxides were present in those catalysts as shown by XRD. The Fe-Co alloy phase was found in the 2%Fe:10%Co/SiO2, 6%Fe:10%Co/SiO2, 10%Fe:10%Co/SiO2, 10%Fe:6%Co/SiO2 catalysts and their crystals were perfect.     

Effect of synthesis solution pH of Co/γ-Al_2O_3 catalyst on its catalytic properties for methane conversion to syngas

The cobalt nanoparticles over γ-Al_2O_3 support were prepared via chemical reduction of CoCl_2·6H_2O using NaBH_4 with various values of pH in the range of 11. 92-13. 80. Synthesized catalysts were studied through X-ray diffraction( XRD),N_2 adsorption/desorption( BET),H_2-temperature programmed reduction( H_2-TPR),H_2-chemisorption,O_2 pulse titration and temperature programmed oxidation( TPO) methods. Obtained results exhibited the synthesis solution pH showed a significant influence on the activity and selectivity in partial oxidation of methane reaction. The methane conversion,CO selectivity and H_2 yield were enhanced by increasing of the synthesis solution pH. Compared to other catalysts,the catalyst that synthesized at pH of 13.80,showed a superior ability in syngas production with a H_2/CO ratio of near 2 and also a proper stability against deactivation during the partial oxidation of methane.     

The influence of La2O3 and TiO2 on NiO/MgO/α-Al2O3

Summary The effect of La₂O₃ and TiO₂ on product selectivity, methane conversion and coke formation over NiO/MgO/ α -Al₂O₃ catalyst were studied in a simultaneous steam and CO₂ reforming of methane to syngas. La₂O₃ and TiO₂ were added to the catalyst via incipient wetness impregnation and bulk precipitation techniques and catalyst activity was tested in a fixed bed quartz reactor. Results reveal that although the addition of these oxides has no effect on the product selectivity and methane conversion, but can reduce coke formation on the surface of the catalysts as it can enhance the mobility of lattice oxygen anions. The results further show that the catalysts prepared by bulk precipitation technique decrease the coke formation more effectively.     

Formation of Co-Ru/MgO/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalysts for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: A magnetic method for the estimation of cobalt particle size

The physicochemical properties of Co-supported catalysts were studied, and the particle size of Co in Co/MgO/Al₂O₃ and Co-0.2% Ru/MgO/Al₂O₃ catalysts for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) was estimated using a magnetic method. It was found that a considerable fraction of superparamagnetic Co particles, which increase selectivity for C₅₊ hydrocarbons and decrease the yield of methane in the FTS, was present in a ruthenium-containing catalyst along with single-domain ferromagnetic particles. In this case, the catalyst activity increased by a factor of 10.     

过渡金属改性的Pd/TS-1催化氢、氧直接合成H_2O_2的性能

利用等体积浸渍法制备了M-Pd/TS-1(M=Ce,La,Pt,Fe,Co,Ni,Cr,Mn,Zn,Cd,Cu)系列催化剂,并将制得的催化剂用于常压下氢、氧直接合成过氧化氢的反应。考察了M的类型及负载量对M-Pd/TS-1催化剂催化性能的影响。结果表明,M选Ce时,催化剂的性能最好。Ce的最佳掺入量,n_(Ce)/(n_(Ce)+n_(Pd))=0.5%。对Ce改性与未改性的催化剂进行了TEM及静态化学吸附分析,结果表明,掺入Ce可使Pd在TS-1分子筛表面的粒度及分散度得到改善。考察了n_(O_2)/n_(H_2)比,气体流量,反应时间等反应条件对H_2转化率、H_2O_2选择性及收率的影响。在相对优化的工艺条件下,即n_(O_2)/n_(H_2)=3,气体流量为25 mL·min~(-1),反应时间为3 h时,H_2O_2,的收率可达到25.7%,TOF值为18.7 mol·mol~(-1)·h~(-1),此时溶液中H_2O_2的质量百分数为0.8%。     

Effect of La2O3 on a Precipitated Iron Catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

A series of La₂O₃-promoted precipitated iron catalysts (100Fe/2.8Si/nLa, n = 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4, atomic ratio) were prepared and characterized by in situ X-ray diffraction, CO temperature-programmed reduction, and N₂ adsorption-desorption. The catalytic performance for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis was studied in a fixed-bed reactor. It was found that the addition of a small amount of La₂O₃ (La/Fe ≤ 0.01) gave a large decrease in the particle size of Fe₂O₃, which increased the specific surface area and dispersion of the catalysts. This also favored the formation of iron carbides, which gave a high catalytic activity in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. With increasing La₂O₃ content (La/Fe ≥ 0.02), a high La₂O₃ coverage and the formation of a LaFeO₃ compound decreased the formation of iron carbides, and the reaction activity decreased. The optimum La₂O₃ content was La/Fe = 0.01. The addition of La₂O₃ increased the selectivity for methane and suppressed the formation of C₅₊ hydrocarbons.     

Autothermal Reforming of Methane over Ni Catalysts Supported on CuO-ZrO2-CeO2-Al2O3

Ni catalysts supported on various mixed oxides of Al2O3 with rare earth oxide and transitional metal oxides were synthesized. The studies focused on the measurement of the autothermal reforming of methane to hydrogen over Ni catalysts supported on the mixed oxide ZrxCe30-xAl70Oδ (x=5, 10, 15). The catalytic performance of Ni/Zr10Ce20Al70Oδ was better than that of other catalysts. XRD results showed that the addition of Zr to Ni/Ce30Al70Oδ prevented the formation of NiAl2O4 and facilitated the dispersion of NiO. Effects of CuO addition to Zr10Ce20Al70Oδ were also investigated. The activity of Ni catalyst supported on CuO-ZrO2-CeO2-Al2O3 was somewhat affected and the Ni/Cu5Zr10Ce20Al65Oδ showed the best catalytic performance with the highest CH4 conversion, yield of H2, selectivity for H2 and H2/CO production ratio in operation temperatures ranging from 650 to 750℃.     

Dry reforming of methane over Ni/Ce0.62Zr0.38O2 catalysts: Effect of Ni loading on the catalytic activity and on H2/CO production

The activity of ceria–zirconia-supported nickel catalysts (Ni/CZ) with various loadings of nickel (2, 4 and 10 wt. %) was studied in the case of low-temperature dry reforming of methane (DRM). XRD, S_BET, SEM, TPD-CO₂ and thermogravimetry were used to determine the physicochemical properties of the catalysts and of the carbon deposits formed on the surface. It was found that the agglomerates of the Ni-active phase are formed on the surface of the support for high loadings of nickel. The best conversions of CO₂ and CH₄ and an optimum ratio H₂/CO = 1 were obtained for the catalysts with the highest Ni content. It was also found that loading has an influence on the amount of carbon deposits formed in the DRM process.     

Tunable Diode Laser Diagnostic Studies of H2-Ar-O2 Microwave Plasmas Containing Methane or Methanol

Tunable infrared diode laser absorption spectroscopy has been used to detect the methyl radical and ten stable molecules in H₂-Ar-O₂ microwave plasmas containing up to 7.2% of methane or methanol, under both flowing and static conditions. The degree of dissociation of the hydrocarbons varied between 30 and 90% and the methyl radical concentration was found to be in the range 10 ¹⁰ –10 ¹² molecules cm ^–3 . The methyl radical concentration and the concentrations of the stable C-2 hydrocarbons C ₂ H ₂ , C ₂ H ₄ , and C ₂ H ₆ , produced in the plasma decayed exponentially when increasing amounts of O ₂ were added at fixed methane or methanol partial pressures. In addition to detecting the hydrocarbon species, the major products CO, CO ₂ , and H ₂ O were also monitored. For the first time, formaldehyde, formic acid, and methane were detected in methanol microwave plasmas, formaldehyde was detected in methane microwave plasmas. Chemical modeling with 57 reactions was used to successfully predict the concentrations in methane plasmas in the absence of oxygen and the trends for the major chemical product species as oxygen was added.     

The effect of the nature of a modifying additive (Pt,Zn, Ga) on the activity of oxide and zeolite catalysts in ethane dehydrogenation and aromatization

The catalytic properties of Pt, Zn, and Ga deposited on supports of various natures (Al₂O₃, SiO₂, NaZSM, and HZSM) in the dehydrogenation and aromatization of ethane were investigated. Pt-containing catalysts are the most active in the conversion of ethane: the selectivity with respect to ethylene is 25–87 % depending on the nature of the support. In the presence of Zn- and Ga-containing catalysts the yield of ethylene is 2–3 times lower than with Pt-catalysts. With HZSM modified by Pt, Zn, or Ga aromatic hydrocarbons (ArH) and methane are the main products of ethane transformation. Ga/HZSM is the most efficient catalyst of the aromatization of ethane under the conditions studied (550 °C, 120 h^–1).Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 606–609, April, 1994.     

Hydrogen production via autothermal reforming of ethanol over noble metal catalysts supported on oxides

Hydrogen was produced over noble metal (Ir, Ru, Rh, Pd) catalysts supported on various oxides, including γ-Al₂O₃, CeO₂, ZrO₂ and La₂O₃, via the autothermal reforming reaction of ethanol (ATRE) and oxidative reforming reaction of ethanol (OSRE). The conversion of ethanol and selectivites for hydrogen and byproducts such as methane, ethylene and acetaldehyde were studied. It was found that lanthana alone possessed considerable activity for the ATRE reaction, which could be used as a functional support for ATRE catalysts. It was demonstrated that Ir/La₂O₃ prevented the formation of methane, and Rh/La₂O₃ encumbered the production of ethylene and acetaldehyde. ATRE reaction was carried out over La₂O₃-supported catalysts (Ir/La₂O₃) with good stability on stream, high conversion, and excellent hydrogen selectivity approaching thermodynamic limit under autothermal condition. Typically, 3.4 H₂ molecules can be extracted from a pair of ethanol and water molecules over Ir(5wt%)/La₂O₃. The results presented in this paper indicate that Ir/La₂O₃ can be used as a promising catalyst for hydrogen production via ATRE reaction from renewable ethanol.     

Ni/CeO2-SiO2催化剂的制备、表征及其甲烷部分氧化制合成气性能

以硝酸亚铈（Ce（NO₃）₃·6H₂O）和正硅酸四乙酯（C₈H₂₀O₄Si）为前驱体,采用溶胶-凝胶法合成了系列具有大比表面积的xCeO₂-（1-x）SiO₂（x = 0,0.25,0.50,0.75,1）复合氧化物载体,然后浸渍活性组分Ni制得用于甲烷部分氧化制合成气的Ni催化剂。运用N₂物理吸附-脱附、X射线粉末衍射、扫描电镜、紫外-可见漫反射光谱、氢程序升温还原、氨程序升温脱附和热重等手段对所得催化剂的组织结构、还原性、表面酸性和积炭行为等进行了表征;同时考察了催化剂的组成、焙烧温度和反应时间等对催化剂在甲烷部分氧化制合成气中催化性能的影响。表征结果表明,该系列Ni/CeO₂-SiO₂催化剂具有大比表面积,CeO₂晶粒较小,NiO的分散性好且易被还原,表面酸性弱,不容易积炭。当Ce/Si摩尔比为1：1,活性组分Ni的质量分数为10%,焙烧温度为700℃时,所制备的Ni/CeO₂-SiO₂催化剂表现出较好的稳定性、最高的CH₄转化率（~84%）和对产物CO及H₂的选择性（>87%）。