The release of methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is rapidly increasing with the growth of dependence on fossil fuels. In an effort to combat the levels of CO2 and CH4 accumulating, chemical engineers have turned to the dry reformation of methane to produce syngas (H2 and CO), an inexpensive product with higher energy value and the potential to be converted to liquid fuels. This project assesses how the novel properties of a pyrolyzed polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) support influences the catalytic performance of Nickel in the dry reformation of methane (DRM). Several PDMS-Nickel catalysts were created and characterized to understand the molecular structure, surface area, porosity, and dispersion of Nickel throughout the catalysts. The results, obtained via gas chromatography, demonstrate that Nickel supported on pyrolyzed PDMS produce thermally stable and higher performing catalysts for DRM reactions. This is indicated by consistent conversion rates of carbon monoxide and methane, and a higher H2/CO ratio. The conclusions drawn from this data suggest that improvements in PDMS formation and Nickel content will increase the industrial practicality of DRM as a method of utilizing CO2 and CH4 to create value-added products. Academically, this project provides an opportunity to gain independence in employing the scientific method to test a hypothesis and presenting the findings to an educated audience for feedback.
Author: Rachel Olp
Advisors: Keith Hohn – Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering; Catherine Almquist – Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering
Graduate Advisor: Justin Hazel – Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering
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