Development of catalysts for greenhouse gases conversion into added value products

Abstract

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) represents an interesting route for the consumption of two of the main contributors to the escalating climate change observed in recent decades. In the DRM reaction, carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are converted into a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2), known as synthesis gas, which can be used to manufacture higher value-added products, such as methanol, paraffins, olefins, etc. This project aims to develop nickel-based catalysts with high stability, activity and selectivity for this reaction. However, there are considerable challenges to overcome such as optimizing the activation of the CO2 molecule on the surface of the catalysts, minimizing the catalytic system deactivation, caused by coke deposition and/or sintering of the metal phase and catalysts poisoning by contaminants, mainly hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Bifunctional nano catalysts will be developed through a physical vapor deposition of nickel on different supports with basic and slightly acidic contents in order to evaluate the effects of the supports, the particle size of the metallic phase and the synthesis route on the stability and activity of the catalysts during the DRM reaction.