Keele Research Repository

Greenhouse gases conversion have become an environmentally friendly way of producing H2 and CO that can be used as a fuel to power solid oxide fuel cells as well as wider industrial applications. The direct conversion of CH4 and CO2 into synthesis gas will reduce the impact of global warming as well as help avoid an energy crisis. This dissertation presents a comprehensive review of the design, preparation and catalytic activity of a variety of catalysts with a specific focus on the stability and ability to suppress coke formation.
Dry reforming, biogas reforming and partial oxidation of methane were performed over hydrothermally synthesised co-doped perovskite nanomaterial, and the results compared to a conventional 10% Ni/Al2O3 catalyst at different temperatures and reaction times. SrZrO3 perovskite catalysts were modified by doping with 4% Ni and either 1% Al or Ru or Fe, aiming to increase the activity, stability and resistance to carbon deposition for reforming of methane reactions. The results have shown that all the pervoskites are catalytically active towards methane conversion reactions with a good resistance to carbon formation.
Isothermal temperature programmed reaction studies were conducted to determine the operating conditions needed to inhibit carbon deposition, whilst still giving high activity and stability, as well as to study the potential of hydrothermally synthesised perovskite catalysts for methane reforming with different quantities and types of oxidant (CO2 and O2). The results show that elevated temperatures of more than 800 °C are required to achieve maximum reactant conversions and product yields for all catalysts with all three reforming methods used in this study.