Enhancing CO and H 2 Production in Propane Dry Reforming in Excess of CO 2 .

This study focuses on addressing the challenges in the dry reforming of propane, a process historically marked by low syngas yields and only moderate conversions of CO ₂ and propane. The primary objective was to enhance CO ₂ utilization and boost the selectivity of syngas (CO and H ₂ ) production using titania-based catalysts. For synthesizing these catalysts, an impregnation method was employed with subsequent characterization through X-ray diffraction (XRD), N ₂ adsorption-desorption, ammonia temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). The titania-based catalysts generally possess weak acidic strength, with each catalyst displaying a unique reduction profile. The dry reforming process using these catalysts resulted in varying levels of propane conversion, with V/Ti, Ir/Ti, Al/Ti, and Zr/Ti catalysts showing distinct efficiencies. Notably, the Ir/Ti and V/Ti oxide catalysts achieved the lowest selectivity for generating intermediate byproducts such as methane, ethane, ethylene, and propylene while successfully promoting higher syngas CO and H ₂ production alongside stable propane conversion. When exposed to excess CO ₂ , each catalyst consumed differing amounts of CO ₂ molecules. Particularly, the Ir/Ti and V/Ti oxide catalysts demonstrated enhanced activity in promoting CO ₂ reactions with intermediate radical species, facilitating carbon-carbon (C-C) bond dissociation and leading to increased syngas production. This study offers valuable insights into the potential of titania-based catalysts in improving the efficiency and selectivity of propane dry reforming processes for blue hydrogen.
Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest.
(© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)