Ru-Ni/SBA-16 catalysts : effect of active phase location in the pores of the 3D support on performances in dry reforming of methane

Abstract

Three dimensional silica SBA-16 containing micropores and cage like mesopores was used as catalytic support for dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction. Five preparation techniques for the support SBA-16 were tested and based on their structural properties; two of them were used for impregnation of 5 wt% Nickel. The SBA-16 supporting the most stable catalyst in DRM was chosen for co-impregnation of nickel (5 wt%) and ruthenium (0.125, 0.25 or 0.5 wt%). Textural and structural properties of the materials were characterized using N2 sorption, X-Ray diffraction, Scanning (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Reducibility was characterized by temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and coke deposition by temperature programmed hydrogenation coupled to mass spectrometry (TPH/MS), XRD, SEM and TEM. Sintering was also followed by XRD and TEM. Ru0.25Ni5/SBA-16 showed the best performance in dry reforming of methane with minimal sintering and coke deposition due to the better dispersion of nickel in presence of this specific percentage of ruthenium in both the cagelike mesopores and micropores of SBA-16.