Catalytic decomposition of CH4 over Ni-Al2O3-SiO2 catalysts: Influence of pretreatment conditions for the production of H2

This article reports the production of COx free hydrogen and carbon nanofibers by the catalytic decomposition of methane over Ni-Al2O3-SiO2 catalysts. The influence of reaction temperature, pretreatment temperature, and effect of reductive pretreatment on the decomposition of methane activity is investigated. The physico-chemical characteristics of fresh and deactivated samples were characterized using BET-SA, XRD, TPR, SEM/TEM, CHNS analyses and correlated with the methane decomposition results obtained. The Ni-Al-Si (4:0.5:1.5) catalyst reduced with hydrazine hydrate produced better H2 yields of ca. 1815 mol H2/mol Ni than the catalyst reduced with 5% H2/N2.