Mesoporous amorphous silicate catalysts for biogas reforming

A number of Ni-TUD-1 amorphous materials with different content of Ni (from 0 to 10 wt%) was synthesized. The materials activity in dry reforming of methane (DRM) was compared and the optimal amount of Ni in the catalyst was evaluated. A Ni content of 3 wt% in the amorphous silicate matrix of TUD-1 structure was chosen as the most active amongst the synthesized materials. The materials were tested in DRM both with argon dilution (different amount of diluting gas) and without diluting gas. It was shown that Ni-TUD-1 catalytic materials could be used in biogas reforming process in real conditions. The reaction outgas of the biogas (model mixture of 35 mol% CO2 and 75 mol% CH4) reforming test at 750 °C was composed of 20 vol% of H2. In general, it was shown that TUD-1 materials could be promising supports for Ni allowing its high dispersion in the silicate matrix. The same amorphous porous matrix was found to insure the stability of the Ni-TUD-1 catalysts to carbon deposition.