Exploring the role of zeolites as nickel supports in dry methane reforming

The study evaluates zeolites and mesoporous silica as Ni supports for dry reforming of methane, analyzing the impact of pore size distribution and Si/Al ratio on catalytic performance, while uniquely combining mesoporosity and acidity effects across a broad range of materials. The supports included commercial zeolites (Beta and ZSM-5) as well as laboratory-synthesized materials. La 2 O 3 doping markedly improves the long-term stability of Ni/silica catalysts, a reinforcement that has seen limited exploration in mesoporous silica systems. Post-reaction analyses also showed that part of the carbon formed consisted of carbon nanotubes. The key support characteristics for effective DRM performance were found to be low Al content and high mesoporosity – specifically a mesopore volume >0.35 cm 3 /g with predominant pore diameters >7 nm – which contributed to higher conversion rates, improved stability, and reduced carbon deposition. These quantitative pore architecture criteria and the demonstrated promoter effect provide a new design guideline for stable DRM catalysts.