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Measurement and Characterization of a High-Temperature, Coke-Resistant Bi-functional Ni/BZY15 Water-Gas-Shift Catalyst Under Steam-Reforming Conditions

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Abstract

This paper characterizes the bi-functional behavior of a unique, nano-dispersed Ni/BZY15 water-gas-shift catalyst under steam-reforming conditions. The catalyst is highly active above 500 \(^\circ\)C and has been found to be exceptionally stable in a hydrocarbon steam reforming environment. The performance can be attributed to two features: (1) well dispersed, nano-sized Ni particles with high surface area, and (2) the ability of the redox-active BZY15 support to remove carbon from the Ni. The bi-functionality is demonstrated through a comparison of WGS activity with BZY15 alone and with a traditional \(\text {Al}_2\text {O}_3\) support. The WGS activity is measured under a range of operating temperatures, steam-to-carbon ratios, and feed-gas flow rates. A series of elementary reaction steps are proposed to explain the bi-functionality and to provide a basis for development of a detailed reaction mechanism.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Science Foundation via Grant DMR1563754. Additional support was provided by Office of Naval Research via Grant N00014-16-1-2780 and Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) for funding under the REBELS program (award DE-AR0000493). We gratefully acknowledge numerous insightful and helpful discussions with our colleagues at the Colorado School of Mines, Prof. Sandrine Ricote, Dr. Madison Kelley and Mr. Luca Imponenti.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, 80401, USA

    Dylan M. Jennings, Chuancheng Duan, Ryan O’Hayre & Ivar E. Reimanis

  2. Mechanical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, 80401, USA

    Canan Karakaya, Huayang Zhu, Gregory S. Jackson & Robert J. Kee

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  1. Dylan M. Jennings
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Jennings, D.M., Karakaya, C., Zhu, H. et al. Measurement and Characterization of a High-Temperature, Coke-Resistant Bi-functional Ni/BZY15 Water-Gas-Shift Catalyst Under Steam-Reforming Conditions. Catal Lett 148, 3592–3607 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-018-2553-7

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