Prospects for Lower Carbon Routes for Conversion of Natural Gas to Energy

Nickel–copper catalysts based on supports comprising zeolite (ZSM-5) show enhanced capacity for carbon deposition from the high-temperature decomposition of methane, with very pure hydrogen being a co-product. It has been found that the zeolite-based catalysts are superior to those using alumina or silica as supports with considerably enhanced carbon deposition capacity. The zeolite morphology appears to play a key role in determining the carbon deposition capacity, with flat micrometer-sized crystallites showing the best performance compared to spherical or nanocubic morphologies. It also seems clear that there are also differences in the detailed interaction between the metal centers and the support, as evidenced by changes in the temperature-programmed reduction behavior of the various systems, and this may be related to the enhanced carbon capacity shown.