Hydrogen and multiwall carbon nanotubes production by catalytic decomposition of methane: Thermogravimetric analysis and scaling-up of Fe-Mo catalysts

Abstract

12 pages, 10 figures, 2 tables.Fe-based catalysts doped with Mo were prepared and tested in the catalytic decomposition of methane (CDM), which aims for the co-production of CO 2-free hydrogen and carbon filaments (CFs). Catalysts performance were tested in a thermobalance operating either at isothermal or temperature programmed mode by monitoring the weight changes with time or temperature, respectively, as a result of CF growth on the metal particles. Maximum performance of Fe-Mo catalysts was found at the temperature range of 700-900 C. The addition of Mo as dopant resulted in an increase in the rate and amount of deposited carbon, reaching an optimum in the range 1.7-5.1% (mol) of Mo for Fe-Mo/Al2O3 catalysts, whereas for Fe-Mo/MgO catalyst an optimum at 5.1% Mo loading was obtained. XRD study revealed the effect of the Mo addition on the Fe2O3/Fe crystal domain size in the fresh and reduced catalysts. Tubular carbon nanostructures with high structural order were obtained using Fe-Mo catalysts, mainly as multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and bamboo carbon nanotubes. Fe-Mo catalysts showing best results in thermobalance were tested in a rotary bed reactor leading to high conversions of methane (70%) and formation of MWCNTs (5.3 g/h). Copyright © 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Work partially supported by FEDER and the Spanish Science and Innovation Ministry (ENE2008-06516-C03-01) and by the Spanish Economy and Competitiveness Ministry (ENE2011-28318-C03-01).Peer Reviewe