Methane conversion to H₂ and carbon nanofibers over supported Ni catalysts: A sustainable process through utilization of deactivated catalysts

The renewable resource such as rice husk has been utilized to synthesize H beta zeolite as a support for Ni catalysts for the production of clean hydrogen and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) by CH4 cracking at 550 degrees C without any CO or CO2 formation. Hydrogen production rates and area of surface Ni are in good correlation, implying the optimum Ni loading of 25 wt % that demonstrated better hydrogen yields and CNFs. The electrochemical properties of the deactivated catalysts indicated that they were near semiconducting in nature, showing future prospects as carbon electrode materials. The physicochemical characteristics of the fresh, reduced, and used catalysts were rationalized by BET surface area, p-X-ray diffraction, temperature programmed reduction using H-2, SEM, TEM, H-2-pulse chemisorption, and Raman spectroscopic analyses in conjunction with hydrogen rates.