Dry reforming of CH4 over NiCo/Ce0.75Zr0.25O2-δ: The effect of Co on the site activity and carbon pathways studied by transient techniques

Abstract The effects of cobalt in the CeZrO2-supported NiCo (3 wt%, Co/ :Ni=3/2) on the DRM at 750oC were investigated by the transient method and use of 18O2 and 13CO2. Transient kinetic rates of carbon deposition and gasification by the support’s oxygen, TOF (s-1) and concentration of active carbon were determined. Higher TOF and reduced carbon accumulation rates were measured on NiCo than Ni at the initial stage of reaction. However, oxidation of Co with time-on-stream led to lower and higher concentration of active metal sites and deposited carbon, respectively. These results appear important for catalyst design improvements (e.g. metal alloy composition).