Stoichiometric effects of feed ratio on syngas production from CO2 reforming of methane over SmCoO3 perovskite catalyst

Abstract

An effective way of consuming the two most dominant gases (CO₂ and CH₄) which are heavily linked with heat waves across the globe is the CO₂ reforming of methane reaction. This study describes the use of sol-gel citrate method to prepare SmCoO₃ perovskite catalyst and thereafter, catalytic test was carried out on the methane reforming reaction platform to produce syngas. The physicochemical properties of SmCoO₃ perovskite catalyst were determined pre-activity evaluation by TGA,  N₂ physisorption, EDX, XRD, and post-activity evaluation by EDX and TGA. Results from the pre-reaction characterization showed the formation of crystalline and monophasic perovskite structure, while the post-reaction characterization showed evidence of carbon species associated with methane reforming reactions. The catalytic reaction was performed at atmospheric pressure on a reactor bed using a gas hourly space velocity of 30,000 h^-1 and the activity was studied at stoichiometry (CO₂: CH₄ 1:1), below (CO₂: CH₄ 1:2)  and above stoichiometry (CO₂: CH₄ 2:1)  of reactant gas at reaction temperature of 1023 K. Results showed highest CO₂ and CH₄ conversion of 85% and 84% respectively and optimum syngas yield (H₂: CO) of 60% and 57% respectively at stoichiometry ratio.