(618e) Thermo Catalytic Decomposition of Methane Into Hydrogen and Carbon Nanofibers On Ni and Fe/ SiO2 Catalyst

Thermocatalytic decomposition of methane is one of the promising technology for the production of pure hydrogen which is desirable for PEM fuel cell application. Thermo Catalytic methane decomposition to produce COx- free hydrogen and carbon nanofibers was carried out over Ni/SiO2 and Fe/SiO2 catalysts in a fixed bed quartz reactor. Metal components were loaded on SiO2 support by the wet impregnation method. Effect of metals loading on the support was investigated by increasing the metals loading from 20- 70 %. The morphology of the fresh catalysts and the characteristics of the carbon produced were also studied on the basis of the results of BET, Chemisorption, XRD, TGA, SEM and TEM analysis. The catalytic decomposition reaction was carried out at 700 deg C and atmospheric pressure. More than 80% methane conversion was obtained on Ni/SiO2 & Fe/SiO2 catalysts at 700ªC. Scanning electron microscope examinations revealed that the deposited carbon formed was in the form of carbon nanofibers. XRD analysis shows that carbon nanofibers formed are of graphitic nature. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies revealed that filamentous carbon was formed during the reaction.