Banca de DEFESA: WILLIAN ALBER DA SILVA FARIAS

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : WILLIAN ALBER DA SILVA FARIAS
DATE: 21/08/2025
TIME: 10:00
LOCAL: Auditório do 2º andar do NUPPRAR
TITLE:

NICKEL CATALYST SUPPORTED ON THERMALLY REDUCED GRAPHENE OXIDE FOR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION VIA DRY METHANE REFORMING

KEY WORDS:

dry reforming of methane (DRM); nickel catalyst; graphene oxide (GO)

PAGES: 120
BIG AREA: Engenharias
AREA: Engenharia de Materiais e Metalúrgica
SUBÁREA: Materiais Não-Metálicos
SPECIALTY: Cerâmicos
SUMMARY:

In recent decades, the significant increase in energy consumption, driven by population growth and the intensification of industrial activity, has substantially expanded the demand for fossil fuels, contributing to the rise in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Among the main contributors to this climatic aggravation are methane and carbon dioxide, with the combustion of natural gas being a relevant source of such emissions. In this context, strategies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) and the transition to renewable energy sources become essential. Dry reforming of methane (DRM) has attracted growing interest, as it combines the mitigation of two GHGs with the production of strategic industrial feedstocks. The success of DRM strongly depends on the choice and performance of the catalyst. Nickel has emerged as an economically viable alternative to noble metals due to its lower cost and good catalytic activity. However, its susceptibility to sintering and carbon deposition limits its operational stability, requiring the development of supports that enhance metal dispersion and provide greater thermal and structural resistance. In this scenario, graphene oxide (GO) and its thermally reduced form (TrGO) emerge as promising supports due to their high specific surface area, excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, and ability to form strong interactions with metal particles. This study aims to investigate the performance of nickel catalysts supported on reduced GO (Ni-TrGO), evaluating how crystal structure, surface morphology, metal dispersion, and nickel content influence catalytic activity during DRM. For this purpose, two distinct formulations were synthesized (5% and 20% Ni by weight) and characterized using various analytical techniques to correlate their physicochemical properties with CH₄ and CO₂ conversion rates, H₂ and CO yields, and post-reaction thermal stability. The results obtained demonstrate that metal–support interactions enhance catalytic performance as nickel content increases, assisting in the identification of more effective catalytic formulations for applications in energy valorization processes with lower environmental impact.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 349770 - DULCE MARIA DE ARAUJO MELO
Interno - 1298936 - ANTONIO EDUARDO MARTINELLI
Externo ao Programa - 3491716 - ÂNGELO ANDERSON SILVA DE OLIVEIRA - UFRNExterno à Instituição - RODOLFO LUIZ BEZERRA DE ARAÚJO MEDEIROS - UFRN
Externo à Instituição - TIAGO ROBERTO DA COSTA - IFRN