CO2 Reforming of CH4 on Mesoporous Alumina-Supported Cobalt Catalyst: Optimization of Lanthana Promoter Loading

The impact of La2O3 promoter loading on alumina-supported cobalt catalysts was investigated in terms of physicochemical properties and catalytic performance for CO2 reforming of methane (CRM) at stoichiometric CH4/CO2 ratio and 1023 K. Both Co3O4 (with crystal size: 5.2-8.4 nm) and La2O3 nanoparticles were finely dispersed on support surface. The promotional La2O3 effect could noticeably increase CH4 and CO2 conversions to 29.3% and 17.3%, correspondingly due to improved basic site concentration and decreasing crystallite size of active metal in association with promoter addition. 5%La loading was an optimal promoter content for reactant conversions as well as yield of H-2 and CO. 5%La-10%Co/Al2O3 also exhibited the highest resistance to carbon deposition owing to the basic nature, redox feature and oxygen vacancy of La2O3 dopant. Notably, the H-2/CO ratio obtained within 0.84-0.98 is preferable for Fischer-Tropsch reaction in downstream to yield liquid hydrocarbon fuels.

Automated summary

The addition of La2O3 promoter can significantly increase the efficiency and product yield of CO2 reforming of methane, with 5% La loading being the optimal choice. The basic nature of La2O3 dopant gives the catalyst higher resistance to carbon deposition.