A Study on Mono and Mixed Nano‐supported Co‐based Catalysts for Dry Reforming of Methane

Effect of calcination temperature on Co‐based catalysts was studied in order to evaluate the modifications in structural and catalytic properties for catalytic reforming of CH 4 with CO 2 . In this regard, two sets of mono ( i.e ., CeO 2 and ZrO 2 ) and mixed nano‐supported ( i.e ., CeO 2 –ZrO 2 ) cobalt‐based catalysts, calcined at two different temperatures (500 and 900 °C), were prepared. To evaluate the catalytic activity of the prepared catalysts, CO 2 –CH 4 reforming reaction was performed in a micro tubular reactor under atmospheric conditions (1 atm) and at different reaction temperatures ranging from 450 to 800 °C. For stability evaluation, the time on stream experiments, under similar reaction conditions, was conducted at 700 °C for 9 h. Furthermore, for selected catalysts the effect of reactants feed ratio ( CO 2 / CH 4 ) and gas space velocity ( GSV ) were also studied. Various techniques such as N 2 adsorption–desorption isotherm, temperature‐programmed reduction ( TPR ), temperature‐programmed desorption ( TPD ), X‐ray diffraction ( XRD ), and thermogravimetric analysis ( TGA ) were used to characterize the prepared catalysts. It was found that the use of a specific calcination temperature in the pretreatment step had a strong influence on catalytic activity, stability, and amount of carbon deposition over catalyst surface in the dry reforming of methane. Additionally, the study revealed that the catalysts calcined at 500 °C had better activity and stability than those calcined at 900 °C.