SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF WC AND Ni NANOCATALYSTS SUPPORTED ON Al2O3 AND MCM-41 FOR DRY REFORMING OF METHANE
Nanocatalyst, tungsten carbide, surface area, methane reforming.
The search for new sources of renewable energy is a global concern for increasingly sustainable development. Among renewable energy sources, hydrogen (H2) is considered an alternative to fossil fuels due to its minimal environmental impact. This study aimed to obtain nickel (Ni) and tungsten carbide (WC) catalysts supported on alumina (Al2O3) and MCM-41 for hydrogen (H2) production through methane (CH4) dry reforming. Various transition metals such as Co, Pd, Pt, Ru, Rh, Ir, and Ni can be used in the reforming reaction. Tungsten carbide exhibits similar behavior to Pt in several catalytic reactions, resulting from the modification of the tungsten's electronic structure by the addition of carbon. In this context, we were able to synthesize (Ni10%w) and (WC10%w) catalysts supported on Al2O3 through incipient wetness impregnation with distilled water, and (Ni10%w), (WC10%w), (Ni2%w-WC8%w), (Ni5%p-WC5%w), and (Ni8%w-WC2%w) catalysts supported on MCM-41 through incipient wetness impregnation with ethanol. The WC used in the study was produced by carbothermal reduction of ammonium paratungstate (APT). The obtained material was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption using the BET method, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Based on the results obtained, it was possible to conclude that the WC production process was satisfactory, yielding nanoscale powders with irregular particle shapes and sizes, and good dispersion of the nickel phase on the alumina and MCM-41 supports. The (Ni10%w/Al2O3) catalyst exhibited a specific surface area of 3.60 m²/g, and the (WC10%w/Al2O3) catalyst exhibited a specific surface area of 2.2 m²/g.