Syngas production via dry reforming of methane over Ni/Al2O3–MgO nanocatalyst synthesized using ultrasound energy

The Ni/Al2O3–MgO nanocatalyst with Al/Mg ratio of 1.5 was prepared successfully using sonochemistry method and shown high activity and stability in dry reforming of methane. XRD, BET, FESEM, TEM and EDAX-dot mapping techniques have been used for nanocatalyst characterization. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of MgO and NiO cubic phases. According to the FESEM micrographs, nanostructure grains with uniform surface size distribution have been observed in of the synthesized nanocatalyst. The TEM micrographs showed that ultrasound-assisted preparation method induced uniform morphology without agglomeration of particles. The activity of synthesized nanocatalyst could reach thermodynamic equilibrium conversions and H2/CO ratios.

Graphical abstractThe aim of the present work was to investigate the effect of sonochemistry in preparation of Ni/Al2O3–MgO nanocatalyst for dry reforming of CH4. In this research, the Ni/MgO–MgAl2O4 nanocatalyst with Al/Mg ratio of 1.5 was prepared successfully using sonochemistry method and shown high activity and stability in dry reforming of methane. XRD, BET, SEM, TEM and EDAX-dot mapping techniques have been used for nanocatalyst characterization. Applying of the ultrasound energy changes the morphology of catalyst and results in smaller particles and higher dispersion of active phase and consequently high activity and stability in CO2 reforming of CH4. The synthesized Ni/Al2O3–MgO nanocatalyst showed high activity and stability during 3200 min reforming and produced H2/CO ratio of ∼1 which is near thermodynamic equilibrium.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide