Syngas production via the dry reforming of methane reaction over Ni/ZSM5 and Co/ZSM5 catalysts

ZSM5 supported nickel (Ni/ZSM5) and cobalt (Co/ZSM5) catalysts with a 7 wt.% total metal loading were prepared by the wet impregnation method. The CO2 reforming of methane reaction was carried out in the 600 to 800°C temperature range at a gas hourly space velocity GHSV = 60000 mL.g-1.hr-1. Above 650°C, methane and carbon dioxide conversions were slightly higher over the Co/ZSM5 solid. During the dry reforming reaction, a large amount of carbon (46.4 wt.%) was deposited on the Ni/ZSM5 catalyst relatively to the small amount (3.6 wt.%) found in the Co/ZSM5 catalyst. Different carbonaceous species were identified in the spent Ni/ZSM5 solid. The X-ray diffraction spectra revealed that some graphitic carbon was deposited on the Ni/ZSM5 catalyst while such carbon species were absent in the Co/ZSM5 catalyst.