Influence of Support Type and Metal Loading in Methane Decomposition over Iron Catalyst for Hydrogen Production. Issue 7 (8th July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ibrahim, Ahmed A.; Al‐Fatesh, Ahmed S.; Khan, Wasim U.; Soliman, Mostafa A.; AL Otaibi, Raja L.; Fakeeha, Anis H.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society. Volume 62:Issue 7(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 592
• Page End: 599
• Publication Date: 2015-07-08
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1002/jccs.201500052
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-4536

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Natural gas resources, stimulate the method of catalytic methane decomposition. Hydrogen is a superb energy carrier and integral component of the present energy systems, while carbon nanotubes exhibit remarkable chemical and physical properties. The reaction was run at 700 °C in a fixed bed reactor. Catalyst calcination and reduction were done at 500 °C. MgO, TiO<sub>2</sub> and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> supported catalysts were prepared using a co‐precipitation method. Catalysts of different iron loadings were characterized with BET, TGA, XRD, H<sub>2</sub>‐TPR and TEM. The catalyst characterization revealed the formation of multi‐walled nanotubes. Alternatively, time on stream tests of supported catalyst at 700 °C revealed the relative profiles of methane conversions increased as the %Fe loading was increased. Higher %Fe loadings decreased surface area of the catalyst. Iron catalyst supported with Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> exhibited somewhat higher catalytic activity compared with MgO and TiO<sub>2</sub> supported catalysts when above 35% Fe loading was used. CH<sub>4</sub> conversion of 69% was obtained utilizing 60% Fe/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> catalyst. Alternatively, Fe/MgO catalysts gave the highest initial conversions when iron loading below 30% was employed. Indeed, catalysts with 15% Fe/MgO gave 63% conversion and good stability for 1 h time on stream. Inappropriateness of Fe/TiO<sub>2</sub> catalysts in the catalytic methane decomposition was observed.</p> </abstract>