(572c) Unique Processing Considerations for the Trireforming of CO2 to Synthesis Gas

Recently discovered natural gas supplies, along with America’s increasing desire for fuel independence, has lead to increases in natural gas conversion to hydrogen and to higher fuels and chemicals.  However, production of fuels and chemicals from methane feedstocks produces greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, adding to global warming concerns. CO₂ accumulation in the atmosphere is at the forefront of today’s responsible chemical industry concerns.  This research is aimed at converting CO₂ to syngas using a trireforming process.  Trireforming utilizes CO₂ and steam, without separation, from industrial flue stacks. Natural gas and oxygen are added to the mixture to produce H₂ and CO at appropriate ratios for downstream Fischer-Tropsch and methanol synthesis reactions.

            Recent literature has alluded to typical processing conditions; however, specific reaction scenarios and conditions have not been reported.  The heart of the trireforming process is the heterogeneous nickel catalyst supported on a metal-oxide catalyst.  Our group has determined that trireforming ensues via a multi-function reaction site mechanism from the nickel and from oxygen vacancies of the support.  Therefore, optimizing reaction conditions (i.e. temperature, pressure, feed ratios, etc.) are important for maximized CO₂ conversions and minimum catalyst coking.  Aspen simulation modeling has been used to investigate the trireforming process using reported catalysts and novel nanoparticle catalysts developed in our laboratory.  These results and a forecast of future CO₂ conversion technologies will be discussed.