Hydrogen Production via Steam Reforming of Propane; Effects of Mg, Ce, La and Ce promoters on Ni/Zeolite Y catalysts

Abstract

After the Paris Agreement, in order to meet the 2050 carbon neutrality strategy, many countries and global companies are making the policy and practical efforts to develop energy conversion processes [1]. Nowadays, research on replacing fossil fuels, which is an energy source for conventional mobility and various processes, with hydrogen is being actively conducted [2]. Propane, dominant component of liquefied petroleum gas, with relatively higher energy density and hydrogen content than methane is an appropriate feed candidate for hydrogen production through steam reforming process. Propane suggests higher hydrogen content at ambient pressures which is more desirable feed in on-site hydrogen stations or even for household fuel cell applications [3]. Nickel based catalysts have been generally used due to proper catalytic activity, lower cost and abundance. However, Ni based catalysts are vulnerable to the catalytic deactivation through the coke formation and the loss of the surface area of the support at high temperatures which led into a rapid catalytic deactivation [4]. An appropriate catalyst support and promoter could improve the catalytic performance significantly to enhance the resistance to the coke deposition and reducing the sintering effect. In this study, propane steam reforming was investigated on Ni/Zeolite Y catalysts with various promoters (Mg, Cs, La and Ce). All catalysts were synthesized by an impregnation method and characterized by XRD, XRF, N2-phyisoprtion, H2-TPR, NH3-TPD, C3H8-TPD and TGA. It was found that the NiLaY catalyst showed higher catalytic activity and coke resistance than unpromoted Ni/Y catalyst at low temperature. This result can be interpreted that the promoter effects on the dispersion of Ni particles of catalysts and the acidity of the zeolite support plays an important role improving the selectivity and coke resistance of the prepared catalyst.