Pseudomorphic Reaction: A New Approach to Produce Bulk Mesoporous Silica as Catalyst Support in Methane Reforming

Pseudomorphism is known as a suitable technique for producing mesoscale pore in silica powders keeping their original morphologies. Herein, silica discs with several millimeter dimensions have been prepared using the same method. This method has been utilized through application of pseudomorphism reaction of preshaped bodies by immersion in a solution containing surfactant and swelling reagents. The pseudomorphism reactions were performed on time and temperature controlled condition. Large surface area of mesoporous silica discs have been considered here for investigation in methane steam reforming as catalyst support. The silica support has been utilized for preparation Ni-silica catalyst through impregnation method.  The physical properties of synthesized mesoporous support and nanocatalysts have been characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption surface measurement (BET- BJH method) and Archemideous immersion analysis as well as field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analyses techniques. Investigation on catalytic behavior of prepared samples in steam reforming of methane resulted improving of methane conversion in addition to hydrogen production yield.