CO2 Reforming of Methane over Ni/MgO Catalysts Promoted with Zr and La Oxides

Distributed electrified heating for efficient hydrogen production

This study introduces a distributed electrified heating approach that is able to innovate chemical engineering involving endothermic reactions. It enables rapid and uniform heating of gaseous reactants, facilitating efficient conversion and high product selectivity at specific equilibrium. Demonstrated in catalyst-free CH4 pyrolysis, this approach achieves stable production of H2 (530 g h-1 L reactor -1) and carbon nanotube/fibers through 100% conversion of high-throughput CH4 at 1150 °C, surpassing the results obtained from many complex metal catalysts and high-temperature technologies. Additionally, in catalytic CH4 dry reforming, the distributed electrified heating using metallic monolith with unmodified Ni/MgO catalyst washcoat showcased excellent CH4 and CO2 conversion rates, and syngas production capacity. This innovative heating approach eliminates the need for elongated reactor tubes and external furnaces, promising an energy-concentrated and ultra-compact reactor design significantly smaller than traditional industrial systems, marking a significant advance towards more sustainable and efficient chemical engineering society.

COF-supported zirconium oxyhydroxide as a versatile heterogeneous catalyst for Knoevenagel condensation and nerve agent hydrolysis

A composite of catalytic Lewis acidic zirconium oxyhydroxides (8 wt %) and a covalent organic framework (COF) was synthesized. X-ray diffraction and infrared (IR) spectroscopy reveal that COF's structure is preserved after loading with zirconium oxyhydroxides. Electron microscopy confirms a homogeneous distribution of nano- to sub-micron-sized zirconium clusters in the COF. 3D X-ray tomography captures the micron-sized channels connecting the well-dispersed zirconium clusters on the COF. The crystalline ZrOx(OH)y@COF's nanostructure was model-optimized via simulated annealing methods. Using 0.8 mol % of the catalyst yielded a turnover number of 100-120 and a turnover frequency of 160-360 h-1 for Knoevenagel condensation in aqueous medium. Additionally, 2.2 mol % of catalyst catalyzes the hydrolysis of dimethyl nitrophenyl phosphate, a simulant of nerve agent Soman, with a conversion rate of 37% in 180 min. The hydrolytic detoxification of the live agent Soman is also achieved. Our study unveils COF-stabilized ZrOx(OH)y as a new class of zirconium-based Lewis + Bronsted-acid catalysts.

The Effect of Different Promoters (La2O3, CeO2, and ZrO2) on the Catalytic Activity of the Modified Vermiculite-Based Bimetallic NiCu/EXVTM-SiO2 Catalyst in Methane Dry Reforming

An X-NiCu/EXVTM-SiO₂ (X = La, Ce, and Zr) catalyst was successfully prepared by using modified vermiculite as a support by the impregnation method. This experiment investigated the effects of La₂O₃, CeO₂, and ZrO₂ promoters on the activity of the NiCu/EXVTM-SiO₂ catalyst. The study found that the addition of three different metal oxides did not improve the activity of the NiCu/EXVTM-SiO₂ catalyst. On the contrary, some Ni active sites were covered by the promoter, which reduced the number of active sites, resulting in its catalytic activity lower than NiCu/EXVTM-SiO₂. In addition, the promoted catalysts that were repeatedly calcined two times can significantly reduce the textural property as well as active sites of the catalyst, resulting in the lower activity. However, in X-NiCu/EXVTM-SiO₂, Ce-NiCu/EXVTM-SiO₂ showed relatively high initial catalytic activity, with the initial conversion rate of CH₄ reaching 60.1% and the initial conversion rate of CO₂ reaching 89.1%. This is mainly because the catalyst has a stronger basic site on the surface to facilitate the adsorption of CO₂ molecules, and the smaller metal particle size is also conducive to the cleavage of C-H bonds.

Enhancing Thermocatalytic Activities by Upshifting the d-Band Center of Exsolved Co-Ni-Fe Ternary Alloy Nanoparticles for the Dry Reforming of Methane

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) is a feasible solution to address the reduction of greenhouse gases stipulated by the Paris Climate Agreement, given that it adds value by converting trivial gases, CO₂ and CH₄ , simultaneously into useful syngas. However, the conventional Ni catalyst undergoes deactivation due to carbon coking and particle agglomeration. Here we demonstrate a highly efficient and durable DRM catalyst: exsolved Co-Ni-Fe ternary alloy nanoparticles on the layered perovskite PrBaMn_1.7 Co_0.1 Ni_0.2 O_5+δ produced by topotactic exsolution. This method readily allows the generation of a larger number of exsolved nanoparticles with enhanced catalytic activity above that of Ni monometallic and Co-Ni bimetallic particles. The enhancement is achieved by the upshift of the d-band center of Co-Ni-Fe relative to those of Co-Ni and Ni, meaning easier charge donation to the adsorbate. Furthermore, the exsolved catalyst shows exceptional stability, with continuous DRM operation for about 350 hours.

High Active Co/Mg1-xCex3+O Catalyst: Effects of Metal-Support Promoter Interactions on CO2 Reforming of CH4 Reaction

Co/Mg1−XCe3+XO (x = 0, 0.03, 0.07, 0.15; 1 wt% cobalt each) catalysts for the dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction were prepared using the co-precipitation method with K2CO3 as precipitant. Characterization of the catalysts was achieved by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The role of several reactant and catalyst concentrations, and reaction temperatures (700–900 °C) on the catalytic performance of the DRM reaction was measured in a tubular fixed-bed reactor under atmospheric pressure at various CH4/CO2 concentration ratios (1:1 to 2:1). Using X-ray diffraction, a surface area of 19.2 m2.g−1 was exhibited by the Co/Mg0.85Ce3+0.15O catalyst and MgO phase (average crystallite size of 61.4 nm) was detected on the surface of the catalyst. H2 temperature programmed reaction revealed a reduction of CoO particles to metallic Co0 phase. The catalytic stability of the Co/Mg0.85Ce3+0.15O catalyst was achieved for 200 h on-stream at 900 °C for the 1:1 CH4:CO2 ratio with an H2/CO ratio of 1.0 and a CH4, CO2 conversions of 75% and 86%, respectively. In the present study, the conversion of CH4 was improved (75%–84%) when conducting the experiment at a lower flow of oxygen (1.25%). Finally, the deposition of carbon on the spent catalysts was analyzed using TEM and Temperature programmed oxidation-mass spectroscopy (TPO-MS) following 200 h under an oxygen stream. Better anti-coking activity of the reduced catalyst was observed by both, TEM, and TPO-MS analysis. Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA   License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0). 

Enhancement of CO2 Reforming of CH4 Reaction Using Ni,Pd,Pt/Mg1−xCex4+O and Ni/Mg1−xCex4+O Catalysts

Catalysts Ni/Mg1−xCex4+O and Ni,Pd,Pt/Mg1−xCex4+O were developed using the co-precipitation–impregnation methods. Catalyst characterization took place using XRD, H2-TPR, XRF, XPS, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), TGA TEM, and FE-SEM. Testing the catalysts for the dry reforming of CH4 took place at temperatures of 700–900 °C. Findings from this study revealed a higher CH4 and CO2 conversion using the tri-metallic Ni,Pd,Pt/Mg1−xCex4+O catalyst in comparison with Ni monometallic systems in the whole temperature ranges. The catalyst Ni,Pd,Pt/Mg0.85Ce4+0.15O also reported an elevated activity level (CH4; 78%, and CO2; 90%) and an outstanding stability. Carbon deposition on spent catalysts was analyzed using TEM and Temperature programmed oxidation-mass spectroscopy (TPO-MS) following 200 h under an oxygen stream. The TEM and TPO-MS analysis results indicated a better anti-coking activity of the reduced catalyst along with a minimal concentration of platinum and palladium metals.

Effect of La2O3 as a Promoter on the Pt,Pd,Ni/MgO Catalyst in Dry Reforming of Methane Reaction

Pt,Pd,Ni/MgO, Pt,Pd,Ni/Mg0.97La3+0.03O, Pt,Pd,Ni/Mg0.93La3+0.07O, and Pt,Pd,Ni/Mg0.85La3+0.15O (1% of each of the Ni, Pd, and Pt) catalysts were prepared by a surfactant-assisted co-precipitation method. Samples were characterized by the XRD, XPS, XRF, FT-IR, H2-TPR, TEM, the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, and TGA and were tested for the dry reforming of methane (DRM). TEM and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) methods were used to analyze the carbon deposition on spent catalysts after 200 h at 900 °C. At a temperature of 900 °C and a 1:1 CH4:CO2 ratio, the tri-metallic Pt,Pd,Ni/Mg0.85La3+0.15O catalyst with a lanthanum promoter showed a higher conversion of CH4 (85.01%) and CO2 (98.97%) compared to the Ni,Pd,Pt/MgO catalysts in the whole temperature range. The selectivity of H2/CO decreased in the following order: Pt,Pd,Ni/Mg0.85La3+0.15O > Pt,Pd,Ni/Mg0.93La3+0.07O > Pt,Pd,Ni/Mg0.97La3+0.03O > Ni,Pd,Pt/MgO. The results indicated that among the catalysts, the Pt,Pd,Ni/Mg0.85La23+0.15O catalyst exhibited the highest activity, making it the most suitable for the dry reforming of methane reaction.

Dry reforming of methane by stable Ni-Mo nanocatalysts on single-crystalline MgO

Large-scale carbon fixation requires high-volume chemicals production from carbon dioxide. Dry reforming of methane could provide an economically feasible route if coke- and sintering-resistant catalysts were developed. Here, we report a molybdenum-doped nickel nanocatalyst that is stabilized at the edges of a single-crystalline magnesium oxide (MgO) support and show quantitative production of synthesis gas from dry reforming of methane. The catalyst runs more than 850 hours of continuous operation under 60 liters per unit mass of catalyst per hour reactive gas flow with no detectable coking. Synchrotron studies also show no sintering and reveal that during activation, 2.9 nanometers as synthesized crystallites move to combine into stable 17-nanometer grains at the edges of MgO crystals above the Tammann temperature. Our findings enable an industrially and economically viable path for carbon reclamation, and the "Nanocatalysts On Single Crystal Edges" technique could lead to stable catalyst designs for many challenging reactions.