Comparative Performance Analysis of Catalysts for Syngas Production from Biogas: A Simulation Study Using DWSIM

This study explored how CH4/CO2 feed ratio, temperature, and pressure affect the conversion of carbon dioxide and methane and the H2/CO ratio of syngas using simulations for six catalysts: Rh/La2O3, Rh/La2O3-SiO2, Ru/La2O3, Ni-Co/Al-Mg-O, LaNiO3, and Ce-La-Ni-O2. Simulations with DWSIM (c) were conducted at CH4/CO2 feed ratios of 1-2, pressures of 1-5 bar, and temperatures of 550-750 degrees C. The effects showed that increasing the temperature by as much as 750 degrees C boosted the H2/CO ratio and improved CO2 and CH4 conversions because of the endothermic nature of the reactions. Higher pressure reduced conversion rates and H2/CO ratios across all catalysts, with a notable similarity between 2 and 5 bar, indicating thermodynamic limits. A higher feed ratio of CH4/CO2 decreased CH4 conversion while increasing the H2/CO ratio at the expense of reduced H2 yield. As the pressure decreases, the Ru/La2O3 and Rh/La2O3-SiO2 catalysts exhibited higher activity because of the kinetic factor. The current research focuses on the possibility of using dry reforming of biogas to synthesize syngas with suitable H2/CO ratios for different uses. The observations suggest that future studies should include techno-economic analysis to determine the least expensive catalysts that will ensure the dry reforming process yields the right composition of syngas.