Hydrogen Production via Dry Reforming of Methane Using a Strontium Promoter over MgO-Supported Ni Catalyst: A Cost-Effective Catalyst System

In the race for industrialization and urbanization, the concentration of greenhouse gases like CO2 and CH4 is growing rapidly and ultimately resulting in global warming. An Ni-based catalyst over MgO support (Ni/MgO) offers a catalytic method for the conversion of these gases into hydrogen and carbon monoxide through the dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction. In the current research work, 1–4 wt% strontium is investigated as a cheap promoter over a 5Ni/MgO catalyst to modify the reducibility and basicity for the goal of excelling the H2 yield and H2/CO ratio through the DRM reaction. The fine catalytic activities’ correlations with characterization results (like X-ray diffraction, surface area porosity, photoelectron–Raman–infrared spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed reduction/desorption (TPR/TPD)) are established. The 5Ni/MgO catalyst with a 3 wt.% Sr loading attained the highest concentration of stable active sites and the maximum population of very strong basic sites. 5Ni3Sr/MgO surpassed 53% H2 yield (H2/CO ~0.8) at 700 °C and 85% H2 yield (H2/CO ratio ~0.9) at 800 °C. These outcomes demonstrate the catalyst’s effectiveness and affordability. Higher Sr loading (>3 wt%) resulted in a weaker metal–support contact, the production of free NiO, and a lower level of catalytic activity for the DRM reaction. The practical and cheap 5Ni3Sr/MgO catalyst is scalable in industries to achieve hydrogen energy goals while mitigating greenhouse gas concentrations.