Application of the Modified Pechini Method Through the Addition of Glycerol in the Synthesis of Fe/Al2O3 and Ni/Al2O3 Catalysts for Methane Decomposition
摘要
This study aims to expand the technological applications of glycerol (Gly) through a sustainable approach for synthesizing Ni/Fe catalysts supported on γ-Al2O3, using glycerol as a polymerizing agent in a modified Pechini method. The conventional ethylene glycol was replaced with glycerol, followed by impregnation with Ni or Fe (20 wt%) in one or two steps. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption-desorption at 77 K, temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. FTIR confirmed polyesterification, demonstrating glycerol’s effectiveness in producing γ-alumina with surface areas between 43 and 165 m2 g− 1. Catalytic tests for methane decomposition at 550 °C showed that two-step synthesized catalysts exhibited superior performance, particularly 2s-Ni20/Al2O3, which achieved 27% methane conversion and produced carbon nanotubes.