Production of Synthesis Gas by Utilization of Municipal Solid Waste Via Dry Reforming of Methane

Global warming issue generated by greenhouse gases (GHG, majorly CH4 and CO2) from various sources (fossil fuel burning, landfill, and power generation) has urged researchers to search for sustainable solutions to attenuate or suppress these emissions. Dry reforming of methane process utilizes these two major greenhouse gases, however, the process hampered by carbon deposition. This study focuses on the preparation of Ni nanoparticle and support Ni/MgO catalysts by microemulsion assisted synthesis. The study of different synthesis parameters depicted that higher surface area and smaller Ni nanoparticles will be obtained at lower water content due to their small microemuslion droplet size. The addition of MgO support to the microemulsion system leads to the drastic reduction in particles size and provides protective shell as depicted by TEM analysis. XRD analysis for pure NiO, MgO and NiO/MgO reveals the formation of a mild type of NiO-MgO solid solution formation. H2-TPR results indicate the lower reduction of NiO/MgO catalysts due to the lower free NiO available compared to pure NiO catalysts. Higher catalytic activity of supported catalysts was dedicated to its higher surface, smaller particle size and a strong metal-support interaction compared to Ni nanoparticles.