Kinetics of dry reforming of methane catalyzed by Ni/Si-MCM-41

Greenhouse gas emissions resulted in high demand for clean and renewable energy. Hydrogen can be produced by dry reforming the methane deriving from these greenhouse gases; thus, it is an alternative to fossil fuels, as well as a potential source of clean energy. The aim of the current article is to determine a kinetic model to enable dry methane reforming based on using Ni/Si-MCM-41 catalysts. The single-site reversible Langmuir-Hinshelwood model has shown the best fit for experimental data recorded at temperature ranging from 873 to 973 K and at volumetric flow rate ranging from 300 to 600 ml/min, among the herein assessed six models. Higher temperatures enabled methane conversion and hydrogen production, as well as lower flow rates: methane conversions were higher than 85% and H2/CO ratio was close to 1. Methane conversion rate robs observed under the best experimental conditions was 0.14 molCH4/gcath; the activation energy estimated for the best model was 76.6 kJ/mol. The herein presented Langmuir-Hinshelwood model can be used in the mathematical modeling and simulation of fixed-bed reactors, as well as to define preliminary conditions to produce syngas or hydrogen-rich gas.(c) 2023 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This article investigates the kinetic model for dry methane reforming using Ni/Si-MCM-41 catalysts, with the single-site reversible Langmuir-Hinshelwood model showing the best fit among six models tested. The higher temperatures and lower flow rates resulted in increased methane conversion and hydrogen production, with methane conversions over 85% and H2/CO ratio near 1. The activation energy for the best model was estimated to be 76.6 kJ/mol, demonstrating its potential for mathematical modeling in reactor simulation for syngas or hydrogen-rich gas production.