28
3 Fossil Hydrocarbon Decarbonization and Nanotechnology
method. The sol–gel catalyst was also found to be stable than the other when used
repeatedly in the steam reforming of the ethanol [4].
Another study has reported use of Al 2 O 3 /NiO nanocatalyst in quartz for the steam
reforming of methane. The catalyst was prepared by employing sol–gel method. It
was found that the size of NiO crystallite in NiO–SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 catalyst varies with
the degree of Ni loading and calcination temperature. The study determined that the
nanocatalyst with 10% Ni is finest for steam reforming of methane. The catalyst
was prepared by making the solution of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in ethanol
and nickel nitrate hexahydrate (amount depending upon the required Ni loading) in
aqueous ethanol. Afterward, both solutions were slowly mixed together with constant
stirring. The solution was allowed to stir at 25 °C for ~ 5–6 h. The product thus
obtained was aged for 7 days. After aging, the catalyst was dried and calcined at
specific temperature. For the introduction of Al 2 O 3 , NiO–SiO 2 and alumina were
mixed together, and bentonite was added as the powder. SEM, transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET, temperature-programmed
reduction (TPR), and thermal conductivity detector (TCD) were used for the characterization of the product. The catalyst is found to be stable up to 500–700 °C. At
optimized conditions, 95.7% conversion of methane to hydrogen was achieved [5].
Keshavarz et al. reported Ni/MgAl 2 O 4 nanocatalysts for the steam pre-reforming
of natural gas. In this investigation, the catalysts were prepared by the deposition
precipitation process, which involves the surfactants. Different parameters which
effect the activity of catalyst and the dispersion of the Ni like aging time, nature of
surfactant, precipitation temperature pH, and of solution were also studied. The best
conditions for the preparation of catalysts were found to be the 5 h aging time, sodium
stearate as the surfactant, 30 °C temperature, and pH 10. At 500–550 °C, 100%
ethane and propane conversions were achieved. For the preparation of the catalyst,
firstly, MgAl 2 O 4 was prepared by co-precipitation method by using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and capping agent. Later on, 21% Ni loading was achieved via deposition precipitation. For this purpose, surfactant and Ni (NO 3 ) 2 · 6H 2 O were stirred
together in DI water followed by the addition of MgAl 2 O 4 and NaOH. Later on, the
product was dried and calcined at high temperature. Different characterization techniques were employed for the analysis of the catalysts like H 2 -TPR, XRD, BET, N 2
adsorption/desorption, TPR, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP), temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO), and temperature-programmed
desorption (TPD) [6].
3.3 Partial Oxidation
Nanotechnology has also found its applications in partial oxidation of the hydrocarbons and their derivatives. Several studies have reported the partial oxidation of
different hydrocarbons for generation of sustainable hydrogen by employing certain
nanostructures. A novel catalyst consisting of three-dimensional honeycomb-like
SiO 2 enclosed by ZrO 2 layer was reported to assist the partial oxidation of methane.
3 Fossil Hydrocarbon Decarbonization and Nanotechnology
method. The sol–gel catalyst was also found to be stable than the other when used
repeatedly in the steam reforming of the ethanol [4].
Another study has reported use of Al 2 O 3 /NiO nanocatalyst in quartz for the steam
reforming of methane. The catalyst was prepared by employing sol–gel method. It
was found that the size of NiO crystallite in NiO–SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 catalyst varies with
the degree of Ni loading and calcination temperature. The study determined that the
nanocatalyst with 10% Ni is finest for steam reforming of methane. The catalyst
was prepared by making the solution of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in ethanol
and nickel nitrate hexahydrate (amount depending upon the required Ni loading) in
aqueous ethanol. Afterward, both solutions were slowly mixed together with constant
stirring. The solution was allowed to stir at 25 °C for ~ 5–6 h. The product thus
obtained was aged for 7 days. After aging, the catalyst was dried and calcined at
specific temperature. For the introduction of Al 2 O 3 , NiO–SiO 2 and alumina were
mixed together, and bentonite was added as the powder. SEM, transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET, temperature-programmed
reduction (TPR), and thermal conductivity detector (TCD) were used for the characterization of the product. The catalyst is found to be stable up to 500–700 °C. At
optimized conditions, 95.7% conversion of methane to hydrogen was achieved [5].
Keshavarz et al. reported Ni/MgAl 2 O 4 nanocatalysts for the steam pre-reforming
of natural gas. In this investigation, the catalysts were prepared by the deposition
precipitation process, which involves the surfactants. Different parameters which
effect the activity of catalyst and the dispersion of the Ni like aging time, nature of
surfactant, precipitation temperature pH, and of solution were also studied. The best
conditions for the preparation of catalysts were found to be the 5 h aging time, sodium
stearate as the surfactant, 30 °C temperature, and pH 10. At 500–550 °C, 100%
ethane and propane conversions were achieved. For the preparation of the catalyst,
firstly, MgAl 2 O 4 was prepared by co-precipitation method by using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and capping agent. Later on, 21% Ni loading was achieved via deposition precipitation. For this purpose, surfactant and Ni (NO 3 ) 2 · 6H 2 O were stirred
together in DI water followed by the addition of MgAl 2 O 4 and NaOH. Later on, the
product was dried and calcined at high temperature. Different characterization techniques were employed for the analysis of the catalysts like H 2 -TPR, XRD, BET, N 2
adsorption/desorption, TPR, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP), temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO), and temperature-programmed
desorption (TPD) [6].
3.3 Partial Oxidation
Nanotechnology has also found its applications in partial oxidation of the hydrocarbons and their derivatives. Several studies have reported the partial oxidation of
different hydrocarbons for generation of sustainable hydrogen by employing certain
nanostructures. A novel catalyst consisting of three-dimensional honeycomb-like
SiO 2 enclosed by ZrO 2 layer was reported to assist the partial oxidation of methane.