COBALT CATALYSIS FOR CH4 AND CO2 REFORMING REACTION: EFFECTS OF ALKALI AND ALKALINE EARTH METAL PROMOTERS

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of alkaline earth metal oxide (Ca) and alkali metal oxide (K) promoter on the physicochemical properties and activity of Al₂O₃-supported cobalt catalysts in the CH₄ reforming reaction with CO₂. The selected Al₂O₃ carriers have a mixed alpha and gamma structure. The cobalt oxide active phase and the promoter are dispersed on the support by capillary impregnation. The effect of the promoter has been shown to reduce the size of the cobalt oxide catalyst and increase the basic of the catalyst. The conversions of CO₂ and CH₄ as well as the efficiency of CO and H₂ products increased when the reaction was carried out on K-Co/MA and Ca-Co/MA catalysts compared to Co/MA catalysts. An H₂/CO ratio close to 1 is ideal as a feedstock for Fisher Tropsch synthesis. In addition, the carbon residue covering the catalytic surface is rapidly oxidized to facilitate the reaction and maintain stable activity.