The role of CO2 in hydrocarbon reforming catalysis: friend or foe?

The paper is a synopsis of recent investigations on hydrocarbon reforming processes for syngas production. It is shown that CO2 emission may be substantially reduced in the carbon-intensive petrochemical and allied industries if it used as co-feed to a forced periodically operated reformer to minimise coking even at the low steam: carbon ratio of about 1. Additional benefits include, better flexibility in H-2:CO ratio to meet downstream olefins or oxygenates manufacture; improved product yield and catalyst longevity. The survey revealed that a basic oxide supported Ni-containing catalyst appropriately promoted with alkaline-earth or rare-earth metals is favoured over more expensive noble metals.