Reforming of model biogas using Ni/CeO2/γ-Al2O3 monolith catalyst

This study aims to develop a Ni-Ce coated alumina cordierite monolith for reforming model biogas. Dry reforming of biogas (DRBG) experiments are carried out at 800 °C for various ratios of CH4/CO2, mainly 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0. A 2 × 2 cm monolith is wash-coated with alumina and loaded with Ni-Ce by the wet impregnation method. For improving metal support interactions, the monoliths are calcined at 800 °C for 20 h and reduced in the presence of H2. The catalysts exhibited a CH4 conversion of 91%, 60%, and 48% and CO2 conversions of 60%, 80%, and 81% for a feed ratio of 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0, respectively. The prepared catalysts are characterized by employing various techniques such as XRD and FESEM incombined with EDS and Raman analysis. XRD of calcined catalysts displayed the phases of CeO2, Al2O3, NiO, NiAl2O4, and the monolith peaks and catalysts showed a stable activity for 40 h time-on stream for all the ratios. The Raman and FESEM analysis of spent catalysts reveal the presence of carbon deposition. However, catalysts showed high activity due to active Ni particles present on the top of the carbon nanotubes.