Supported Rh nanoparticles on CaO-SiO2 binary system for the dry reforming of methane in membrane reactors

B FAROLDI, J MUNERA, L CORNAGLIA; S GONZALEZ CARRAZAN

Pittsburgh

Congreso; 24th North American Catalysis Society Meeting; 2015

Given the low prices of natural gas and thediscovery of abundant shale gas reserves, natural gas is replacing crude oil asa source of energy supply, thus decreasing the dependence on the decliningreserves of the latter. The conversion of methane to synthesis gas and hydrogenhas been widely studied.  Among methanereforming reactions,  the  so-called dry reforming with carbon dioxideis an interesting alternative to obtain H2 in membrane reactors. Whenthe La-Si support is used for Rh formulations, they are catalytically stablesand do not produce carbonaceous residues . The aim of this work is todevelop a catalyst with  highactivity,  low carbon deposition, andhigh hydrogen yield.  Among the basicpromoters, Ca is an interesting alternative because it can be simply producedfrom low-cost starting materials. In addition, the Rh loading was optimizedemploying different precursor salts. The effect of the operation variables uponthe performance of the membrane reactor for hydrogen production was alsostudied.