Dry reforming of methane over a ruthenium/carbon nanotube catalyst

In this study, CH₄ dry reforming was demonstrated on a novel microwave-synthesized ruthenium (Ru)/carbon nanotube (CNT) catalyst. The catalyst was tested in an isothermal laboratory-packed bed reactor, with gas analysis by gas chromatography/thermal conductivity detection. The catalyst demonstrated excellent dry-reforming activity at modest temperatures (773–973 K) and pressure (3.03 × 10⁵ Pa). Higher reaction temperatures favored increased conversion of CH₄ and CO₂, and increased H₂/CO product ratios. Slight coke deposition, estimated by carbon balance, was observed at higher temperatures and higher feed CH₄/CO₂ . A robust global kinetic model composed of three reversible reactions—dry reforming, reverse water gas shift, and CH₄ decomposition—simulates observed outlet species concentrations and reactant conversions using this Ru/CNT catalyst over the temperature range of this study. This engineering kinetic model for the Ru/CNT catalyst predicts a somewhat higher selectivity and yield for H₂, and less for CO, in comparison to previously published results for a similarly prepared Pt_Pd/CNT catalyst from our group.