Water-gas shift coupling with methanation over MOx modified nanorod-NiO/γ-Al2O3 catalysts

Water-gas shift coupling with methanation was carried out over metal oxide modified nanorod-NiO/γ-Al2O3 catalysts prepared by grind-mixing method in a continuous flow type fixed-bed reactor. The effects of promoter type, Co3O4 content, and reaction pressure were investigated. From the experimental results, Co3O4 modified nanorod-NiO/γ-Al2O3 catalyst exhibited better activity than NiO–CuO/γ-Al2O3 and NiO–Fe2O3/γ-Al2O3 with molar ratio of CO/H2/H2O = 3:1:1 at 593 K and atmospheric pressure. The addition of 10 wt%Co3O4 to nanorod-NiO/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was optimum. The CO conversion of 50 wt%NiO–10 wt%Co3O4/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was 7.8% and the CH4 selectivity reached 83.2%. The NiO–MOx/γ-Al2O3 catalysts were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, temperature programmed reduction and thermogravimetry techniques.