Dry Reforming of Methane Using Ce-modified Ni Supported on 8%PO4 + ZrO2 Catalysts

Metal-(Acyclic Diaminocarbene) Complexes Demonstrate Nanomolar Antiproliferative Activity against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Hydrolytically stable PdII and PtII complexes supported by acyclic diaminocarbene ligands represent a novel class of structural organometallic anticancer agents exhibiting nanomolar antiproliferative activity in a panel of cancer cell lines (IC50 0.07-0.81 μM) and up to 300-fold selectivity for cancer cells over normal primary fibroblasts. The lead drug candidate was 300 times more potent than cisplatin in vitro and showed higher efficacy in reducing the growth of aggressive MDA-MB-231 xenograft tumors in mice.

Enhancing CO and H2 Production in Propane Dry Reforming in Excess of CO2

This study focuses on addressing the challenges in the dry reforming of propane, a process historically marked by low syngas yields and only moderate conversions of CO2 and propane. The primary objective was to enhance CO2 utilization and boost the selectivity of syngas (CO and H2) production using titania-based catalysts. For synthesizing these catalysts, an impregnation method was employed with subsequent characterization through X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption-desorption, ammonia temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). The titania-based catalysts generally possess weak acidic strength, with each catalyst displaying a unique reduction profile. The dry reforming process using these catalysts resulted in varying levels of propane conversion, with V/Ti, Ir/Ti, Al/Ti, and Zr/Ti catalysts showing distinct efficiencies. Notably, the Ir/Ti and V/Ti oxide catalysts achieved the lowest selectivity for generating intermediate byproducts such as methane, ethane, ethylene, and propylene while successfully promoting higher syngas CO and H2 production alongside stable propane conversion. When exposed to excess CO2, each catalyst consumed differing amounts of CO2 molecules. Particularly, the Ir/Ti and V/Ti oxide catalysts demonstrated enhanced activity in promoting CO2 reactions with intermediate radical species, facilitating carbon-carbon (C-C) bond dissociation and leading to increased syngas production. This study offers valuable insights into the potential of titania-based catalysts in improving the efficiency and selectivity of propane dry reforming processes for blue hydrogen.

Unraveling the effect of particle size of active metals in Ni/MgO on methane activation and carbon growth mechanism

For dry reforming of methane, the active metal particle size of the catalyst has a significant effect on both the reaction activity and the resistance to carbon deposition. In this study, nickel particles of different sizes (Ni13, Ni25, and Ni37) supported on the MgO(100) slab are used to study the mechanism of CH4 activation and carbon growth based on DFT theoretical calculations. According to the results, the energy of adsorption for reaction intermediates changes depending on the size of the active metal. The adsorption process of CH3, CH2, CH and C on Ni25/MgO has a maximum exothermic value. Furthermore, the energy barriers of CH4 four-step dehydrogenation are lowest on Ni25/MgO during the CH4 activation process. The growth process of carbon deposition on the catalysts is also investigated in this work. The results indicate that the growth of carbon from C5 to C6 is difficult to proceed on Ni13/MgO due to size and active site limitation. Additionally, with an increase in particle size of the active metal, the absolute value of growth energy and average carbon binding energy of Cn increase on both Ni25/MgO and Ni37/MgO. It is proved that smaller particle size presents better resistance to carbon deposition. In the studied size range, Ni25/MgO is demonstrated to have greater catalytic activity and better resistance to carbon deposition.

Quo Vadis Dry Reforming of Methane?—A Review on Its Chemical, Environmental, and Industrial Prospects

In recent years, the catalytic dry reforming of methane (DRM) has increasingly come into academic focus. The interesting aspect of this reaction is seemingly the conversion of CO2 and methane, two greenhouse gases, into a valuable synthesis gas (syngas) mixture with an otherwise unachievable but industrially relevant H2/CO ratio of one. In a possible scenario, the chemical conversion of CO2 and CH4 to syngas could be used in consecutive reactions to produce synthetic fuels, with combustion to harness the stored energy. Although the educts of DRM suggest a superior impact of this reaction to mitigate global warming, its potential as a chemical energy converter and greenhouse gas absorber has still to be elucidated. In this review article, we will provide insights into the industrial maturity of this reaction and critically discuss its applicability as a cornerstone in the energy transition. We derive these insights from assessing the current state of research and knowledge on DRM. We conclude that the entire industrial process of syngas production from two greenhouse gases, including heating with current technologies, releases at least 1.23 moles of CO2 per mol of CO2 converted in the catalytic reaction. Furthermore, we show that synthetic fuels derived from this reaction exhibit a negative carbon dioxide capturing efficiency which is similar to burning methane directly in the air. We also outline potential applications and introduce prospective technologies toward a net-zero CO2 strategy based on DRM.