Hydrogen production from catalytic decomposition of methane over ordered mesoporous carbons (CMK-3) and carbide-derived carbon (DUT-19)

This paper presents a thermogravimetric analysis of catalytic methane decomposition using ordered mesoporous carbon nanorods (CMK-3) and ordered mesoporous carbidederived carbon (DUT-19) as catalysts. X-ray diffraction and N2 physisorption analyses were performed for both fresh catalysts. Threshold temperatures for methane decomposition with DUT-19 and CMK-3 were estimated by three different methods found in literature. Carbon formation rate and carbon weight gain as a function of time at various temperatures and methane partial pressures were studied, and the kinetics of CMK-3 and DUT-19 as catalysts for methane decomposition were investigated. Arrhenius energy values of 187 kJ/mol for CMK-3 and 196 kJ/mol for DUT-19 with a reaction order of 0.5 were obtained for both catalysts. Results show that carbon deposition on the catalyst during the reaction lead to catalyst deactivation with significant surface modification. Scanning electron microscope studies of fresh and deactivated catalyst samples show the blocking of catalyst pores and the formation of agglomerates on the outer surface of the catalyst during the course of reaction. DUT-19 catalytically outperforms CMK-3 because of a lower threshold temperature, higher surface area, and higher pore volume. These results show that ordered mesoporous carbons are promising catalysts for methane decomposition.