Synthesis, characterization, and application of ruthenium-doped SrTiO3 perovskite catalysts for microwave-assisted methane dry reforming

Publication date: May 2018 Source:Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process Intensification, Volume 127 Author(s): Lalit S. Gangurde, Guido S.J. Sturm, M.J. Valero-Romero, Reyes Mallada, Jesus Santamaria, Andrzej I. Stankiewicz, Georgios D. Stefanidis A series of ruthenium-doped strontium titanate (SrTiO3) perovskite catalysts were synthesized by conventional and microwave-assisted hydrothermal methods. The structure was analyzed by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) confirming the formation of the perovskite phase with some TiO2 anatase phase in all the catalysts. Microwave irradiation decreases the temperature and time of synthesis from 220 °C for 24 h (conventional heating) to 180 °C for 1h, without affecting the formation of perovskite. A 7 wt. % ruthenium-doped SrTiO3 catalyst showed the best dielectric properties, and thus its catalytic activity was evaluated for the methane dry reforming reaction under microwave heating in a custom fixed-bed quartz reactor. Microwave power, CH4:CO2 vol. % feed ratio and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) were varied in order to determine the best conditions for performing dry reforming with high reactants conversions and H2/CO ratio. Stable maximum CH4 and CO2 conversions of ∼99.5% and ∼94%, respectively, at H2/CO ∼0.9 were possible to reach with the 7 wt. % ruthenium-doped SrTiO3 catalyst exposed to maximum temperatures in the vicinity of 940 °C. A comparative theoretical scale-up study shows significant improveme...

Source: Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification - April 6, 2018 Category: Chemistry Source Type: research