Tuning the basicity of the Ni@MCM-41 catalyst via alkaline earth metal oxide promoters for CO2 reforming of CH4

Abstract

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) is an effective method to change two main greenhouse gases (CH₄ and CO₂) into valuable chemicals such as hydrogen. Considering that the nature of the catalysts has a substantial effect on this reaction, in this study, we explored the role of the support (MCM-41) and altering the basicity of catalysts with alkaline earth oxides (BaO, MgO, and CaO). The synthesized catalysts were analyzed using N₂ adsorption–desorption (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), H₂ temperature-programmed reduction (H₂-TPR), CO₂ temperature-programmed desorption (CO₂-TPD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and Raman spectroscopy. Based on the findings, the BaO-promoted Ni@MCM-41 resulted in higher CO₂ adsorption (evidenced by CO₂-TPD), reducibility, and active metal dispersion, confirmed by BET, XRD, and H₂-TPR. These favorable properties resulted in BaO/Ni@MCM-41 exhibiting a good performance toward hydrogen production and coke resistivity as well as a negligible decrease in activity after a 48 h stability test.