The Importance of Removing Carbon Dioxide Gas from the Atmosphere

The importance of removing carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere and using it to produce hydrogen possibly for fuel cells and other applications is of upmost important. Carbon dioxide is a potent greenhouse gas that several studies have shown to be impacting climate change around the globe. Carbon dioxide is normally produced via some type of combustion reaction in automobiles or various industrial processes The goal of decreasing the emissions of carbon dioxide in the air has been of utmost important due to our continued need for energy and transportation. Clearly finding a durable and efficient catalyst to perform this reaction is a major step towards solving these major environmental problems

Syngas, a gas composed of the presence of both hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide, are usually the end the products in this reaction. This reaction is normally a highly endothermic type of reaction. The conversion of two relatively inexpensive materials into more valuable products is a major motivation for research in this area. Also the conversion of synthesis gas into other materials such as methanol, ethanol, ethylene and acetone is another major motivation for research.

Most carbon dioxide reforming reactions require the use of some type of activated metal-support catalyst to increase the reaction rate of carbon dioxide reforming. Active metals are usually the site where most catalytic activity occurs. Support materials usually impart porous characteristics and surface area. Numerous combinations of dispersed metal-support catalysts exist which catalyze the dry reforming reaction. For instance, Group VIII, IX, and X elements have been proven experimentally by other researchers to catalyze the dry reforming reaction. Magnesium oxide and alumina are the common support materials due to their relative stability to high temperature stresses and low rates of reactivity with steam. ZSM-5 was studied in some instances due to its high surface area and thermally neutral properties as a support for the nickel metal. Alumina supported catalysts provide another option due to their low cost and high conversion of reactants. Ceria-Zirconia and zirconia supports are usually used because of their high surface area. These oxides tend to increase the catalytic performance via the increase in metal dispersion.