SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
Hierarchical Fe-modified MgAl2O4 as a Ni-catalyst support for methane dry reforming†
Abstract
MgAl2O4 and its Fe-modified analogue (MgFexAl2−xO4) were synthesized as supports with a nanostructure by a hydrothermal process, and employed as supports for Ni catalysts in methane dry reforming (DRM). All prepared supports had a hierarchical architecture displaying clusters of nanosheets. Fe-modified MgAl2O4 was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption–desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). The activity and stability of the catalysts with a hierarchical support were tested in DRM at 750 °C, 111.3 kPa, and a CH4 : CO2 ratio of 1. The Ni/MgAl2O4 sample with a 0.5 Mg : Al molar ratio showed higher activity than Ni on common MgAl2O4 due to the larger surface area and stronger metal interaction with the hierarchical support. Besides, a series of Ni/MgFexAl2−xO4 catalysts with an Fe/Ni ratio between 0 and 0.5 was synthesized and reduced, yielding a supported Ni–Fe alloy. The structure evolution of the Ni/MgFexAl2−xO4 catalyst during H2 temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), CO2 temperature-programmed oxidation (CO2-TPO), and dry reforming was investigated by in situ XRD. For Fe/Ni ≤ 0.05, a Ni–Fe surface alloy is obtained with high catalyst activity, efficient control of carbon deposition and superior regeneration ability. Ni supported on hierarchical Fe-modified MgAl2O4 proves to be a promising and effective catalyst for methane dry reforming.
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