Synthesis Gas Production from Dry

Reforming of Methane using Bimetallic

Catalysts
Project presentation
Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT(ISM) Dhanbad

Shipra(15JE001807)
 Contents
• Synthesis Gas
• Benefits of Synthesis Gas
• Steam Reforming of Methane
• Dry Reforming of Methane
• Drawbacks of Steam Reforming-Dry Reforming over Steam
Reforming
• Catalyst Preparation
• Calculations
• Characterization of catalysts
• Results
• Future Plan
• References
SYNTHESIS GAS

Traditionally syngas was produced by coal gasification processes

that combine partial oxidation and steam treatment of coal.
 BENEFITS OF SYNTHESIS GAS
 Used as reactants in the Fischer–Tropsch process to produce
diesel, or converted into oxygenated chemicals such as
methane, methanol, and dimethyl ether in catalytic processes.

 It is a clean burning fuel that can be used as a substitute for

natural gas, fuel oil or propane to produce process heat, steam,
hot water and/or electricity using conventional energy
recovery equipment.

Benefits of syngas utilization in gas engines

• Generation of renewable power
• Conversion of problematic wastes to useful fuels
• Economical onsite power production and reduced transmission
losses
• Reduction in carbon emissions
STEAM REFORMING OF METHANE

One of the advantages of SMR is the lower possibility of coking

due to the high partial pressure of water.

However the resulting H2/CO ratio (S = 3) is not practical for

methanol synthesis which require a lower ratio (S≈ 2–2.2) and
therefore appropriate adjustments.

DRY REFORMING OF METHANE

In commercial processes, the reaction is conducted on Ni/MgO or

Ni/MgAl₂O₄ catalyst at temperatures from 800–1000 ˚C.
DRY REFORMING OVER STEAM
REFORMING
• Preferable feedstock for the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis of long-chain
hydrocarbons

• Produces high purity carbon monoxide

• Environmentally beneficial
• if the reaction heat comes from renewable energy,
• utilized CO₂ is obtained from a CO₂ rich stream or from the air
• natural gas deposits contain various amounts of CO₂ and its removal can
be avoided if used in dry reforming, thus lowering the purification cost

• The price of the raw materials will obviously increase and chemical
technologies which utilize CO₂ may be subsidized in the future,
making the envisioned anthropogenic carbon cycle more feasible.
 CATALYST PREPARATION
• Transition metals Ni and Co were used for dry reforming of methane
• The Use of Bimetallic Catalysts
offer the potential of increased activities and selectivity combined with enhanced
stability as compared to their monometallic counterparts.

Method of Catalyst Preparation

Magnesium Aluminate supported Nickel and Cobalt

(bimetallic) catalyst of different ratios was
prepared by Typical Incipient Wetness
impregnation Method. The desired concentration of
metal nitrate solution was prepared for the given
mass of Magnesium Aluminate and mixed well.
Then impregnated samples were dried overnight in
Desiccator followed by calcination up to 5000 C for
four hours. The samples were then crushed to fine
powder.
Catalyst was prepared with total 15wt% metal loading of Ni and Co in varying proportions.

Sample Nickel Cobalt

100Ni 100 % 0
75Ni,25Co 75% 25%
50Ni,50Co 50% 50%
25Ni,75Co 25% 75%
100Co 0 100%
Calculations
 2gms of support MgAl₂O₄
 Nickel nitrate hex hydrate
• Molecular weight of Ni(NO₃)₂.6H₂O=290.81 g/mole
• Weight of Ni=58.71g/mole
• Color-green
 Cobalt nitrate hex hydrate
• Molecular weight of Co(NO₃)₂.6H₂O=291.03 g/mole
• Weight of Co=58.93g/mole
• Color-red

Amount of Wt of salt(g)
metal(g) Amount of
Composition
(15% wt of Ni Co H₂O(ml)
catalyst)
100% Ni 0.3529 1.7480 0 2.350
75% Ni, 25% Co 0.3529 1.3126 0.4345 2.3513
50% Ni, 50% Co 0.3529 0.87401 0.87141 2.3522
25% Ni, 75% Co 0.3529 0.435 1.30674 2.3531
100% Co 0.3529 0 1.7428 2.3533
Characterization
Fig (4): Hydrogen TPR
Using BET Surface Analysis
 Results

 TGA was done to determine the stability of catalyst and
from figure it is clear that Magnesium Aluminate is
more stable than gamma-Alumina at high temperatures.
 Peaks at 31.17˚, 37.31˚, 44.75˚, 59.41˚ and 65.57˚ obtained
from XRD confirm the formation of Magnesium
Aluminate.

Future Plan
From Literature we found that presence of Basic oxides
reduce coke deposition and enhances the reactivity. So, we
will modify the support using Calcium oxide tetra hydrate
and Magnesium oxide Hex hydrate by Incipient Method.
Further we will carry out the reaction.
 References

 Wei Wang, Shengping Wang et al(2011), “Recent
advances in catalytic hydrogenation of carbon
dioxide”, Journal Chem. Soc. Rev., 2011, 40, 3703–
3727
 Alain Goeppert,* Miklos Czaun et al(2014),
“Recycling of carbon dioxide to methanol and
derived products – closing the loop”, Journal Chem.
Soc. Rev., 2014, 43, 7995
 M. C. J. BRADFORD & M. A. VANNICE (1999): CO2
Reforming of CH4, Catalysis Reviews: Science and
Engineering, 41:1, 1-42
 

Thank You