A nickel doped perovskite catalyst for reforming methane rich biogas with minimal carbon deposition

Abstract

A novel nickel-doped strontium zirconate perovskite catalyst for biogas reforming has been synthesised using a green, low temperature hydrothermal synthesis. The catalyst has been shown to be very efficient towards the conversion of methane-rich biogas at relatively low temperatures with high selectivity towards synthesis gas formation and extremely good resistance to carbon deposition in carbon-rich reaction mixtures. The catalyst displays very low carbon deposition which does not increase over time, and as a result shows excellent stability. The use of a catalyst produced by a low temperature hydrothermal route provides a potentially very attractive and sustainable source of useful chemicals from biogas that otherwise might be vented wastefully and detrimentally into the atmosphere.