Hydrogen Production via Dry Reforming of Methane Using a Strontium Promoter over MgO-Supported Ni Catalyst: A Cost-Effective Catalyst System

Abstract

In the race for industrialization and urbanization, the concentration of greenhouse gases like CO2 and CH4 is growing rapidly and ultimately resulting in global warming. An Ni-based catalyst over MgO support (Ni/MgO) offers a catalytic method for the conversion of these gases into hydrogen and carbon monoxide through the dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction. In the current research work, 1–4 wt% strontium is investigated as a cheap promoter over a 5Ni/MgO catalyst to modify the reducibility and basicity for the goal of excelling the H2 yield and H2/CO ratio through the DRM reaction. The fine catalytic activities’ correlations with characterization results (like X-ray diffraction, surface area porosity, photoelectron–Raman–infrared spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed reduction/desorption (TPR/TPD)) are established. The 5Ni/MgO catalyst with a 3 wt.% Sr loading attained the highest concentration of stable active sites and the maximum population of very strong basic sites. 5Ni3Sr/MgO surpassed 53% H2 yield (H2/CO ~0.8) at 700 °C and 85% H2 yield (H2/CO ratio ~0.9) at 800 °C. These outcomes demonstrate the catalyst’s effectiveness and affordability. Higher Sr loading (>3 wt%) resulted in a weaker metal–support contact, the production of free NiO, and a lower level of catalytic activity for the DRM reaction. The practical and cheap 5Ni3Sr/MgO catalyst is scalable in industries to achieve hydrogen energy goals while mitigating greenhouse gas concentrations.