Kinetic Analysis of Catalytic Dry Reforming of Methane Using Ni-ZrO2/MCM-41 Catalyst

Abstract

This work investigates the kinetics of catalytic dry reforming of methane (CDRM) to produce hydrogen gas using nickel-based catalysts. A new catalyst was prepared, Ni-ZrO2@MCM-41 (MCMZ) and used in the CDRM reaction. The textural, physical, and morphological scans are used to characterize the prepared catalyst. The performance of the newly prepared catalyst in terms of temperature effects and long-term stability is assessed. The reaction activation energy is studied as well. The outcomes of this study revealed that the MCMZ provided the highest conversion values for CH4 and CO2, with 89 and 91%, respectively. The optimum reaction temperature to achieve the highest syngas conversion was 800 °C. In addition, two new models that present CH4 and CO2 conversions for MCMZ as a function of reaction time to predict the rate of catalyst activity were built with very high accuracy. It was found that the activation energy was within the expected limits. Finally, the constants and reaction rate were determined. To conclude, this research creates a new catalyst with high performance to enhance hydrogen gas production from methane with carbon dioxide that contributes significantly to the field of yielding alternative energy sources.