LAUSR

Abstract In this study, yttrium-incorporated SBA-16 supported nickel-based oxygen carriers (OCs) were prepared and evaluated for syngas production in chemical looping steam methane reforming (CL-SMR) process. The mesoporous silica-based support was synthesized by pH-adjustment hydrothermal procedure and then it was impregnated with NiO particles. The influence of pH adjustment in the synthesis step, yttrium loading and nickel weight percentage are investigated on the physicochemical analysis and catalytic performances of OCs. The pH value exhibited significant effect on the formation of well-ordered mesostructure and substitution of yttrium ions within the structure of SBA-16. Thus, a zeolite like mesostructure of Si-Y is formed at the optimal pH value of 5.4. The results revealed that smaller dimensions and higher dispersion of nickel impregnated particles were formed by incorporation of Y2O3 species into the structure of SBA-16. The calcined OCs are tested in CL-SMR process in the temperature range of 500–750 °C. In addition, the performance of optimum OCs through 16 redox cycles are also investigated to study the activity, coke resistance and structural changes over the process time. The results demonstrated that 25.5NiO/Y(40)SBA-16(5.4) OC has the best performance in respect to catalytic activity and structural properties.