Dry Oxidative Reforming for Synthesis of Hydrogen Augmented Biogas and Its Utilization in Internal Combustion Engine

Abstract

The over-reliance on conventional fossil fuels has created multifaceted problems for society. Moreover, the fluctuating prices and limited availability are also pushing for non-conventional fuels. The exploration of domestically available clean and renewable fuel is essential for attaining sustainable development goals. Biogas is an attractive alternative gaseous fuel as it can be produced from various locally available feedstocks. However, its lower calorific value and CO2 content retard the utilization in energy applications. Hydrogen-augmented biogas has recently gained interest due to its higher calorific value and suitability for energy applications. Dry reforming is a catalyst-based technique that could generate hydrogen-augmented biogas from raw biogas. It is a reaction between methane and carbon dioxide for producing a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide; however, it suffers from high energy requirements and frequent catalyst deactivation. Dry oxidative reforming is the coupling of both dry and partial oxidative reforming. It could help lower the energy requirements and increase the catalytic activity and stability. In the present study, various nickel-based supported catalysts were synthesized through the wet-impregnation method and utilized for reforming application. This study involved the assessment of the effects of various support systems, promoters, and bimetallic catalysts. The catalysts were characterized using BET analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field-emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), and H2- temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR) techniques. The study on effects of support system was performed using various metal oxides (CeO2, Sm2O3, TiO2, and Y2O3). The reforming of synthetic biogas was performed in the temperature range of 650-800 °C under atmospheric pressure conditions with varying O2/CH4 from 0 to 0.5.