Modification of CeNi 0.9 Zr 0.1 O 3 Perovskite Catalyst by Partially Substituting Yttrium with Zirconia in Dry Reforming of Methane.

Methane Dry Reforming is one of the means of producing syngas. CeNi 0.9 Zr 0.1 O 3 catalyst and its modification with yttrium were investigated for CO 2 reforming of methane. The experiment was performed at 800 °C to examine the effect of yttrium loading on catalyst activity, stability, and H 2 /CO ratio. The catalyst activity increased with an increase in yttrium loading with CeNi 0.9 Zr 0.01 Y 0.09 O 3 catalyst demonstrating the best activity with CH 4 conversion >85% and CO 2 conversion >90% while the stability increased with increases in zirconium loading. The specific surface area of samples ranged from 1-9 m 2 /g with a pore size of 12-29 nm. The samples all showed type IV isotherms. The XRD peaks confirmed the formation of a monoclinic phase of zirconium and the well-crystallized structure of the perovskite catalyst. The Temperature Program Reduction analysis (TPR) showed a peak at low-temperature region for the yttrium doped catalyst while the un-modified perovskite catalyst (CeNi 0.9 Zr 0.1 O 3 ) showed a slight shift to a moderate temperature region in the TPR profile. The Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curve showed a weight loss step in the range of 500-700 °C, with CeNi 0.9 Zr 0.1 O 3 having the least carbon with a weight loss of 20%.