Open AccessCockscomb-like fibrous silica beta zeolite (FSBEA) as a new engineered catalyst for enhanced CO methanation
Author(s) -
Ijaz Hussain,
Aishah Abdul Jalil,
N.A.A. Fatah,
S.M. Izan,
Aishah Abd. Jalil
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
iop conference series. materials science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1757-899X
pISSN - 1757-8981
DOI - 10.1088/1757-899x/736/4/042012
Subject(s) - methanation , zeolite , catalysis , chemical engineering , adsorption , physisorption , substitute natural gas , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , materials science , selectivity , yield (engineering) , particle size , chemistry , organic chemistry , syngas , composite material , engineering
This study focuses on the synthesis of cockscomb-like fibrous silica beta zeolite (FSBEA) and its application in CO methanation to produce substituted natural gas (SNG). FSBEA was synthesized by microemulsion technique using commercial beta zeolite-seeds and characterized by FESEM, XRD, N 2 physisorption and FTIR spectroscopy. The results showed that the FSBEA had a unique cockscomb-like morphology with particle size 400-800 nm, enhanced interparticle porosity and high BET surface area of 532 m 2 /g, which offers more adsorption sites for the CO and H 2 molecules to enhance CO methanation activity. Catalytic performance results revealed that FSBEA demonstrated higher CO conversion (71%), selectivity (64%), the yield of CH 4 (46%) and the rate of CH4 formation (0.0375 μmol-CH 4 /m 2 s) than commercial based BEA. Besides, FSBEA expressed high thermal stability up to 45 h during CO methanation at 450 °C. Therefore, this study offers an attractive and sustainable route for SNG over FSBEA that may be used as a clean and alternate energy source for fossil fuels.