Work

Hydrogen production from chemical looping reforming of methane: A screening of Ni-based oxygen carriers

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The simultaneous increase in energy use and CO 2 emissions poses a serious environmental threat. Efficient technologies that produce low-carbon energy vectors from methane through CO 2 recycling offer promising solutions. Hydrogen, a lightweight energy vector with high energy content, ease of storage, and large-scale production potential, emits no direct pollutants and can be generated from various low-carbon sources. Chemical looping technologies are effective for hydrogen production due to their high energy efficiency and inherent CO 2 capture. This study investigates chemical looping technologies for hydrogen production through multiple redox cycles, alternating methane fuel steps with oxidation steps in air or CO 2 to restore the catalysts and remove carbon. For this reason, five nickel-based catalysts were tested: Ni coprecipitated with cerium oxide, Ni impregnated on lab-made ceria, NiMgAl and NiCaAl mixed oxides from hydrotalcite-like precursors, and a LaNi 0.8 Co 0.2 O 3 perovskite oxide. Results show hydrogen production efficiency and catalyst stability are strongly influenced by the oxidation atmosphere as well as by the materials redox properties and the nickel chemical environment.

Source: Applied Catalysis B: Environmental

DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2025.125819

Authors: Luca Consentino, Francesca Deganello, Rut Guil-Lopez, Valeria La Parola, Leonarda Francesca Liotta, Giuseppe Pantaleo