The role of CO2 in hydrocarbon reforming catalysis: friend or foe?

The paper is a synopsis of recent investigations on hydrocarbon reforming processes for syngas production. It is shown that CO2 emission may be substantially reduced in the carbon-intensive petrochemical and allied industries if it used as co-feed to a forced periodically operated reformer to minimise coking even at the low steam:carbon ratio of about 1. Additional benefits include, better flexibility in H2:CO ratio to meet downstream olefins or oxygenates manufacture; improved product yield and catalyst longevity. The survey revealed that a basic oxide supported Ni-containing catalyst appropriately promoted with alkaline-earth or rare-earth metals is favoured over more expensive noble metals.

► ODR has a common ΔHrxn for all alkanes at an identical O2 content dependent only on temperature. ► Alkaline-earth or rare-earth promotion improves carbon-tolerance of the Ni-based catalyst. ► Cyclic CO2 feed during steam reforming enhances product H2 and CO rates and catalyst longevity.