Tri-reforming of methane: A novel concept for synthesis of industrially useful syngas with desired H₂/CO ratios using flue gas of power plants without CO₂ pre-separation

A novel process concept called tri-reforming is being proposed and explored in laboratory for effective conversion and utilization of CO₂ in the flue gases from fossil fuel-based power plants in the 21st century. The CO₂, H₂O, and O₂ in the waste flue gas need not be pre-separated because they will be used as co-reactants for tri-reforming of natural gas. The tri-reforming is a synergetic combination of CO₂ reforming, and partial oxidation of natural gas. Various base-metal catalysts (Ni) and noble-metal catalysts (Pt) were prepared using different supports (Al₂O₃, CeO₂, MgO, ZrO₂, etc.) and evaluated for tri-reforming. The simultaneous oxy-CO₂-steam reforming reactions in the tri-reforming process could produce industrially useful synthesis gas with desired H₂/CO ratios (1.5-2). Tri-reforming could eliminate carbon formation, which is a serious problem encountered in CO₂ reforming of methane. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 227th ACS National Meeting (Anaheim, CA 3/28/2004-4/1/2004).