The Ce-Fe-O mixed oxide with a ratio of Ce/Fe=7:3, which was prepared by coprecipitation method and employed as oxygen carrier, for direct partial oxidation of methane to syngas in the absence of gaseous oxygen was explored. The mixed oxide was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the catalytic performances were studied in a fixed-bed quartz reactor and a thermogravimetric reactor, respectively. Approximately 99.4% H2 selectivity, 98.8% CO selectivity and 94.9% CH4 conversion were achieved at 900 oC in fixed-bed experiments, furthermore, the increase of reaction temperature was favourable for the production of syngas.The results of thermal gravity cycle experiments showed that the Ce-Fe-O mixed oxide catalyst could complete five cycles in 10949 s in methane and air alternately atmosphere, and the catalyst regenerated with air has the same substance phase structure as the fresh when characterized by XRD. The SEM micrograph characterizations revealed that catalyst did not exhibit obvious agglomeration when exposed to alternating oxidizing and reducing atmosphere at a higher reaction temperature. In conclusion, the Ce-Fe-O mixed oxide as the oxygen carrier showed good activity and cycle performance. It was suggested that using lattice oxygen of Ce-Fe-O mixed oxide instead of gaseous oxygen to react with methane for production syngas is viable.
A citric acid complex method was employed to prepare Ce/Ni mixed oxides with various Ce/Ni ratios useful for selective oxidation methane to syngas in the absence of gaseous oxygen,and the catalytic activity measurement was investigated in a fixed bed reactor at 800 oC.The prepared oxygen carriers were characterized by various characterization techniques such as TG-DSC,XRD and TPR.The results of TG-DSC indicated that the Ce1-xNixO2 precursor generated a stable phase after the heat-treatment at temperatures above 800 oC.The XRD characterization suggested that some Ce-Ni solid solution was formed when Ni2+ ions was incorporated into the lattice of CeO2,and it led to the generation of O-vacancy which could improve the oxygen mobility in the lattice of oxygen carriers.It was found that Ce0.8Ni0.2O2 gave the highest activity in the selective oxidation methane to syngas reaction,and the average methane conversion,CO and H2 selectivity reached to 82.31%,82.41% and 87.64%,respectively.The reason could be not only attributed to the fitting amount of NiO dispersed on the CeO2 surface and bulk but also to actual lattice oxygen amount increased in oxygen carrier.
CeO2 oxygen carrier was prepared by precipitation method and tested by two-step steam reforming of methane (SRM). Two-step SRM for hydrogen and syngas generation is investigated in a fixed-bed reactor. Methane is directly converted to syngas at a H2/CO ratio close to 2 : 1 at a high temperature (above 750 °C) by the lattice oxygen of CeO2; methane cracking is found when the reduction degree of CeO2 was above 5.0% at 850 °C in methane isothermal reaction. CeO2?δ obtained from methane isothermal reaction can split water to generate CO-free hydrogen and renew its lattice oxygen at 700 °C; simultaneously, deposited carbon is selectively oxidized to CO2 by steam following the reaction (C+2H2O→CO2+2H2). Slight deactivation in terms of amounts of desired products (syngas and hydrogen) is observed in ten repetitive two-step SRM process due to the carbon deposition on CeO2 surface as well as sintering of CeO2.
Xing Zhu, Hua Wang YonggangWei Kongzhai Li Xianming Cheng
Two-step steam reforming of methane (SRM) is a novel chemical looping process towards the production of pure hydrogen and syngas (synthesis gas), consisting of a syngas production step and a water-splitting step. Renewable energy can be used to drive this process for hydrogen production, especially solar energy. CeO2-Fe2O3 complex oxide oxygen carrier was prepared by the impregnation method and characterized by means of X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (Raman) and hydrogen programmed reduction (H2-TPR). CH4 temperature programmed and isothermal reactions were adopted to test syngas production reactivity, and water splitting reaction was employed to investigate water-splitting activity. Moreover, two-step SRM performance was evaluated by a successive redox cycle. The results showed that CO-uncontaminated H2 and highly selective syngas (with H2/CO ratio close to 2) could be respectively obtained from two steps, and CeFeO3 formation was found in the first redox cycle and proved to be enhanced by the redox treatment. After 10 successive cycles, obvious CeFeO3 phase was detected, which may be responsible for favorable successive redox cycle performances.
A series of Ce-Fe-Zr-O(x)/MgO(x denotes the mass fraction of Ce-Fe-Zr-O,x=10%,15%,20%,25%,30%) complex oxide oxygen carriers for selective oxidation of methane to synthesis gas were prepared by the co-precipitation method.The catalysts were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction and H2-TPR.The XRD measurements showed that MgFeO4 particles were formed and Fe2O3 particles well dispersed on the oxygen carriers.The reactions between methane diluted by argon(10% CH4) and oxygen carriers were investigated.Suitable content of CeO2/Fe2O3/ZrO2 mixed oxides could promote the reaction between methane and oxygen carriers.There are mainly two kinds of oxygen of carriers:surface lattice oxygen which had higher activity but lower selectivity,and bulk lattice oxygen which had lower activity but higher selectivity.Among all the catalysts,Ce-Fe-Zr-O(20%)/MgO exhibited the best catalytic performance.The conversion of the methane was above 56%,and the selectivity of the H2 and CO were both above 93%,the ratio of H2/CO was stable and approached to 2 for a long time.
