Coke-Resistant Ni–Co/ZrO₂–CaO-Based Microwave Catalyst for Highly Effective Dry Reforming of Methane by Microwave Catalysis

Abstract

The dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction is an attractive approach to convert two greenhouse gases into valuable syngas. However, the DRM reaction remains a great challenge due to catalyst deactivation caused by coke formation. Herein, we reported a new method for a highly efficient DRM reaction by microwave catalysis and developed a novel Ni-Co/ZrO 2 -CaO-based microwave catalyst. Importantly, the CH 4 conversion and CO 2 conversion for Ni-Co/ZrO 2 -CaO + SiC in microwave catalytic reaction mode (MCRM) are highly up to 97.1 and 99.2%, respectively, at 800 °C. Comparatively, under identical reaction conditions in conventional reaction mode (CRM), the CH 4 conversion and CO 2 conversion is only 75.7 and 82%. Ni-Co/ZrO 2 -CaO + SiC catalyst showed favorable stability at 800 °C in the MCRM during the DRM reaction for 30 h. More importantly, it is found that microwave irradiation significantly reduced the coke formation compared with the CRM. Interestingly, microwave irradiation can accelerate the elimination of coke by dramatically speeding up the reaction between C and CO 2 , which exhibits a significant microwave selective catalytic effect. In addition, microwave radiation shows the direct catalytic effect of the microwave, which can reduce the apparent activation energy of the DRM reaction. Our work provides an innovative approach for the DRM reaction and thus opens a novel avenue to solve the coke formation in the DRM reaction.

Review and Outlook of Confined Ni Catalysts for the Dry Reforming of Methane Reaction

“…Recently, some researchers have already started the studies in fields of light, microwave, electricity, etc. for supported catalysts, ,,,− but the related studies for confined catalysts are rare. Considering the stricter physical and chemical confinement effects in the confined catalysts, Ni sintering and carbon deposition may be more alleviated under fields of light, microwave, and electricity for DRM.…”