Conversion of biogas to synthesis gas over NiO/CeO2–Sm2O3 catalysts

• NiO/Ce0.82Sm0.18O1.91 cermets were prepared for catalytic and SOFC applications.
• The solids were active without need of pre-treatment.
• The conversion of methane increases with increasing temperature and carbon dioxide to methane molar ratio.
• The catalyst showed a stable behavior during a time on stream of six hours for a carbon dioxide to methane molar ratio of 2.3.

The main objective of this work has been to study the catalytic activity in the conversion of biogas to Syngas of a Ni/Ce0.82Sm0.18O1.91 oxide system, which could be used as a component in the anode material of a SOFC directly fed with biogas.The solids were active without need of pretreatment with a stable behavior during a time on stream of six hours for a carbon dioxide to methane molar ratio of 2.3. This feed composition maximize the production of synthesis gas, with stable catalytic behavior without formation of carbonaceous compounds and involving CO2 capturing, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gases.It can be concluded that NiO/CeO2Sm2O3 catalysts exhibited promising catalytic performance for their use in the composition of anode material of solid oxide fuel cells fed with biogas.