Overcoming carbon deactivation in biogas reforming using a hydrothermally synthesised nickel perovskite catalyst

Abstract

A hydrothermally synthesised nickel-strontium zirconate perovskite is shown to have excellent selectivity towards biogas reforming without suffering from deactivation due to carbon formation. Experiments reveal that this material is capable of very efficiently converting methane and carbon dioxide to synthesis gas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, at relatively low temperatures and, particularly importantly, high methane contents. Under these conditions we find that carbon production is extremely low and more importantly shows no increase over time, even after 10 days of continuous reforming activity. This conversion of a renewable product, using a catalyst prepared by low temperature hydrothermal methods, provides a route to future sustainable hydrogen, and oxygenate and higher hydrocarbon, production whilst lowering some greenhouse gas emissions.