(621cw) Tri-Reforming of Methane over Nickel-Based Catalysts

Rising concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere requires new technologies to limit CO₂ emissions. The catalytic tri-reforming process has been proposed to utilize CO₂ emissions from the flue gas of fossil fuel fired power plants without the need of CO₂ pre-separation step while producing syngas with a suitable H₂:CO ratio desired for Fischer-Tropsch process and methanol synthesis. Tri-reforming process requires development of a promising catalyst that has high surface area, good redox properties, and high O₂ storage capacity. Additionally, the catalyst needs to be thermally stable at temperatures between 700 °C and 900 °C,  resistant to coke formation and economically viable.

Initial efforts of this work are focused on determining activity of Ni particles supported over metal oxides at different flue gas conditions and CH₄ molar ratios. The conversion, selectivity and stability of the catalysts are evaluated at different feed ratios in a fixed bed reactor.  Additional efforts are focused on evaluating the influence of particle size to the catalyst activity. Post characterization of catalysts are performed to determine the sintering of Ni particles and coke deposition on the catalysts.