Preparation of a high performance cobalt catalyst for CO2 reforming of methane

• Supported cobalt catalyst powders were prepared via co precipitation method.
• The catalytic activity and stability were affected by metal loadings and pH.
• The methane decomposition rate based on Eley–Rideal mechanism was proposed.
• Methane – surface oxygen reaction was found to be the rate determining step.

The novel silica supported cobalt catalysts powders promoted by ruthenium and zirconium (CRZS) were prepared via a coprecipitation method for the catalytic CO2 reforming. The optimum metals loadings and pH of solution were systematically investigated in order to obtain a high performance and coke resistant catalyst. The most active, stable, and coke resistance catalyst was found in the catalyst prepared at pH 1 with the combination of 14.68 wt.%, 0.14 wt.%, 5.00 wt.%, and 80.00 wt.%, respectively for cobalt, ruthenium, zirconium and silica. BET, XRD, TPR, and H2 chemisorption analyzer found that the phenomena of Co3O4 cluster enlargement as the increase of cobalt loadings, the higher reduction degree and pore diameter as the increase of ruthenium loadings, and the inhibition of strong Co–SiO2 interaction in the proper zirconium loading were confirmed as the variation of metals loadings. The variable of pH solution during catalysts preparation gave significant effects on the catalysts stability and coke formation. The deactivation of catalyst prepared in low pH was related with the presence of surface ZrO of catalyst without any relation with coke formation. The obtained parameters of methane consumption rate based on Eley–Rideal mechanism showed that the surface chemical reaction between methane and surface oxygen became the rate-determining step of the reaction.

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