Dry Reforming of Methane over a Ruthenium/Carbon Nanotube Catalyst

摘要

In this study, CH4 dry reforming was demonstrated on a novel microwave-synthesizedruthenium (Ru)/carbon nanotube (CNT) catalyst. The catalyst was tested in an isothermallaboratory-packed bed reactor, with gas analysis by gas chromatography/thermal conductivitydetection. The catalyst demonstrated excellent dry-reforming activity at modest temperatures(773–973 K) and pressure (3.03 × 105 Pa). Higher reaction temperatures favored increased conversionof CH4 and CO2, and increased H2/CO product ratios. Slight coke deposition, estimated by carbonbalance, was observed at higher temperatures and higher feed CH4/CO2. A robust global kineticmodel composed of three reversible reactions—dry reforming, reverse water gas shift, and CH4decomposition—simulates observed outlet species concentrations and reactant conversions usingthis Ru/CNT catalyst over the temperature range of this study. This engineering kinetic modelfor the Ru/CNT catalyst predicts a somewhat higher selectivity and yield for H2, and less for CO,in comparison to previously published results for a similarly prepared Pt_Pd/CNT catalyst fromour group.