Journal Article

Dry Reforming of Methane Using Gd-promoted Ni/SBA-16 Catalyst: Structure, Activity and Process Optimization with Response Surface Methodology

Al Otaibi, Ahmed, Bhran, Ahmed A., Al-Zahrani, Salma A., Alotibi, Mohammed F., Alreshidi, Maha Awjan, Al-Fatesh, Ahmed S., Osman, Ahmed I., Al-Enazy, Hessah Difallah A., Alsaif, Nuha Othman S.

2025

Overview

This work examines the effect of gadolinium (Gd) promotion on nickel-based SBA-16 catalysts for the dry reforming of methane (DRM), with the goal of improving syngas production by optimizing catalyst composition and operating conditions. Catalysts with varying Gd loadings (0.5–3 wt.%) were synthesised using co-impregnation. XRD, N2 physisorption, FTIR, XPS, and H2-TPR–CO2-TPD–H2-TPR were used to examine the structural features, textural properties, surface composition, and redox behaviour of the catalysts. XPS indicated formation of enhanced metal–support interactions, while initial and post-treatment H2–TPR analyses showed that moderate Gd loadings (1–2 wt.%) maintained a balanced distribution of reducible Ni species. The catalysts were tested for DRM performance at 800 °C and a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 42,000 mL g−1 h−1. 1–2 wt.% Gd-promoted catalysts achieved the highest H2 (~67%) and CO yield (~76%). Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to identify optimal reaction conditions for maximum H2 yield. RSM predicted 848.9 °C temperature, 31,283 mL g−1 h−1 GHSV, and a CH4/CO2 ratio of 0.61 as optimal, predicting a H2 yield of 96.64%, which closely matched the experimental value of H2 yield (96.66%). The 5Ni–2Gd/SBA-16 catalyst exhibited minimal coke deposition, primarily of a graphitic character, as evidenced by TGA–DSC and Raman analyses. These results demonstrate the synergy between catalyst design and process optimization in maximizing DRM efficiency.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
• Subject: Analysis / Boron nitride / Carbon dioxide / catalyst optimization / Catalysts / Composition / Design of experiments / Design optimization / dry reforming of methane / Gadolinium / gadolinium promoter / Geographical distribution / hydrogen production / Methane / Methods / Ni/SBA-16 catalyst / Nickel / Nitrates / Optimization / Reforming / Response surface methodology / response surface methodology (RSM) / Synthesis gas / Temperature / X ray photoelectron spectroscopy