Abstract
In this work, the development of 10, 30, and 50 wt.% Co/TiO2-Al2O3 catalysts for catalytic methane decomposition reaction has been reported to produce pure hydrogen. The synthesis of Co particles on the surface of mesoporous mixed oxide catalyst support has been done by ultrasound-assisted wet impregnation method with ethanol as impregnation cosolvent. The catalysts' activity was evaluated for 10 h at 600 degrees C and 1 bar of pressure. The kinetic experiments for 50 wt.% Co catalyst were carried out in the temperature range between 550 and 650 degrees C by varying the methane partial pressure in a microreactor. The catalysts were thoroughly characterized using various techniques such as X-ray diffraction, N-2-physisorption, H-2-temperature programmed reduction, Scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, and Thermogravimetric analysis. A power-law model was developed by assuming a nonlinear dependency of reactant partial pressure on the methane decomposition rates. The results showed that prepared catalysts possess good textural properties and exhibited high activity. The activity and stability were found to be a direct function of the Co metal loading. The power-law model satisfactorily fits the experimental data with an R-2 value above 0.95. The apparent reaction order and activation energy were 2.46 and 65.16 kJ mol(-1), respectively. The improved wet impregnation method synthesized the Co nanoparticles under 25 nm at a metal loading of 50 wt.%.