The catalytic conversion of methane to hydrogen holds significant promise in mitigating CO2 emissions, making it a focal point of contemporary research endeavors aimed at enhancing efficiency. An avenue of inquiry involves augmenting catalytic efficacy through the modification of activated carbon. Within this study, a novel carbon-based catalyst was synthesized through the modification of activated carbon using KOH and the incorporation of nano-carbon black, followed by comprehensive characterization and analysis. Experimental findings revealed that activated carbon subjected to a 10% KOH solution exhibited heightened catalytic stability at 950°C, yielding a methane conversion rate of 33% after 3 hours. The introduction of KOH facilitated the formation of numerous small particles on the activated carbon's surface, thereby bolstering its catalytic stability. However, the utilization of a concentrated KOH solution during modification was observed to diminish the presence of acidic groups on the activated carbon surface. This modification perturbed the pore structure, consequently diminishing both the specific surface area and pore volume of the material. Moreover, the loading of carbon black onto the activated carbon surface resulted in particle detachment, thereby compromising the catalytic performance of the newly developed catalyst. Intriguingly, variations in the loading time of carbon black exhibited minimal influence on the catalytic efficacy of the catalyst. These findings underscore the delicate equilibrium requisite in modifying activated carbon for catalytic applications, accentuating the necessity of optimizing surface properties while circumventing structural alterations that may compromise overall performance.
Comment submit