A comparison of catalyst behavior of Samaria Modified Ni Catalyst Supported on Mesoporous Silica and Carbon for Methane CO_2 Reforming

The Samaria-promoted of 10 wt% Nickel CMK-3 and 10wt% Nickel SBA-15 were synthesized by the Samarium (3wt %) addition, and using the two solvent impregnation technique. The N_2 adsorption-desorption, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive xray analysis, xray diffraction and the transmission electron microscopy analysis were used to characterize of the Samaria modified and unmodified catalysts. Furthermore, the catalyst performances were tested under the carbon dioxide reforming of methane. As a result, the xray diffraction and surface area investigation revealed that the addition of Samaria (Sm_2O_3) into the Nickel (Ni) catalysts/silica (SBA-15) and carbon (CMK-3) mesostructures decreased the particles size and surface area according to the TEM micrographs; however, mproved the catalysts activity and catalysts stability. The role of investigation of support in the dry reforming reaction indicated that the activity and catalysts stability of the Ni/CMK-3 catalysts were lower than the Ni/SBA-15 catalysts due to the agglomeration of Ni nanoparticles on the CMK-3 support, the sintering of Ni nanoparticles, the burning of the mesoporous carbon support in the higher temperatures and the blocking of Ni nanoparticles into the deposited carbon nanotubes (CNTs).