2025 AIChE Annual Meeting

(251g) Hydrogen Production Via Tri-Reforming of Methane: A Synergistic Modeling and Experimental Approach

Authors

Mohamed Sufiyan Challiwala, Texas A&M University
Hanif Choudhury, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Nimir Elbashir, Texas A&M University at Qatar
The rising demand for cleaner energy has driven interest in hydrogen production processes with low carbon footprints. Tri-reforming of Methane (TRM)—which combines steam reforming, dry reforming, and partial oxidation—offer an efficient route for hydrogen generation while utilizing CO₂ and achieving a favorable H₂/CO ratio. However, the harsh oxidizing environment in TRM presents challenges for catalyst stability and long-term performance.

This work integrates kinetic modeling and experimental validation to support the development of a scalable TRM process. A 1-D multi-scale pseudo-homogeneous reactor model was developed in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to simulate TRM, accounting for nine key reactions and incorporating internal and external mass transfer limitations through effectiveness factor calculations. The model sensitivity was evaluated for different reforming technologies utilizing experimental data from the literature and our lab.

The experimental effort focused on optimizing our novel Ni-Cu bimetallic catalyst, originally designed for dry reforming of methane, by evaluating the effects of enhancing it with promoters such as La and Ce and comparing synthetic methods such as ball milling and wet impregnation. Catalyst performance was evaluated using advanced characterization and time-on-stream tests under TRM conditions. The kinetic model enabled multi-parameter regression and was validated using experimental data, providing insight into the intrinsic kinetics of the process.

The validated model–experiment framework revealed that under optimized conditions (750°C, 1 bar, CH₄:CO₂:H₂O:O₂ = 1:0.6:0.6:0.1), TRM achieved high CO₂ conversion (>90%), stable H₂/CO ratio of 1.5, minimal carbon deposition, and enhanced H₂ production. Efforts are ongoing to understand the effect of promoters on the catalyst stability and carbon resistance, confirming the potential of this integrated approach for advancing TRM as a robust, low-emission hydrogen production route.

References:

Ahmed Ashour, Mohamed S. Challiwala, Benjamin Wilhite, Nimir Elbashir. "Modeling Tri- reforming of Methane for Hydrogen Production and CO2 Utilization." (Submitted to Energy Journal).