Self-regenerable carbon nanofiber supported Fe - Mo2C catalyst for CH4-CO2 assisted reforming of biomass to hydrogen rich syngas

In-situ self-regenerable Fe / Fe3C - Mo2C - CNF catalyst was developed and evaluated extensively over 15 cycles of CH4 - CO2 assisted biomass reforming. In-situ regeneration was observed through nucleation on carbon sa-turated Fe3Cx sites due to abundance of free-C from reaction and undercoordinated carbon in support. Molybdenum existed as stable beta-Mo2C whereas Fe composition changed from Fe degrees sites to Fe3Cx. Due to highly dispersed small nanoclusters (5 nm) in lower Fe loading catalysts, graphene nanosheets (GNS) synthesis was observed whereas on 5 % Fe catalysts, large agglomerated nanoparticles (similar to 10 to 20 nm) facilitated CNF / CNT synthesis. Regeneration on 0.5 % Fe occurred through CNF growth while graphene cover regenerated 5 % Fe catalysts. Fe - Mo2C - CNF catalyzed reactions produce hydrogen rich syngas over 15 cycles with H-2 concentration 60 % and H-2:CO ratio of 2-4. Hydrodeoxygenation reforming of biomass was typically between 40-60 % of the amount of oxygenates.

Automated summary

A self-regenerable Fe/Fe3C-Mo2C-CNF catalyst was developed and evaluated over 15 cycles of CH4-CO2 assisted biomass reforming, showing potential in producing hydrogen-rich syngas. The catalyst exhibited in-situ regeneration through nucleation on carbon-saturated Fe3Cx sites, with changes in Fe composition and different nanocluster dispersion affecting the synthesis of graphene nanosheets and CNF/CNT. Hydrodeoxygenation reforming of biomass accounted for 40-60% of the oxygenates during the reactions.