TRI-REFORMING OF METHANE: A NOVEL CONCEPT FOR SYNTHESIS OF INDUSTRIALLY USEFUL SYNTHESIS GAS WITH DESIRED H2/CO RATIOS USING CO2 IN FLUE GAS OF POWER PLANTS WITHOUT CO2 SEPARATION

Introduction CO2 conversion and utilization are an important element in chemical research on sustainable development, because CO2 also represents an important source of carbon for fuels and chemical feedstock in the future [1-3]. The prevailing thinking for CO2 conversion and utilization begins with the use of pure CO2, which can be obtained by separation. In general, CO2 can be separated, recovered and purified from concentrated CO2 sources by two or more steps based on either absorption or adsorption or membrane separation. Even the recovery of CO2 from concentrated sources requires substantial energy input [4,5]. According to US DOE, current CO2 separation processes alone require significant amount of energy which reduces a power plant’s net electricity output by as much as 20% [6]. This paper discusses a new process concept that has been recently proposed [7-9] for effective conversion of CO2 in the flue gases from electric power plants without CO2 pre-separation, which can be used for the production of synthesis gas (CO + H2) with desired H2/CO ratios for synthesizing clean fuels and chemicals. The tri-reforming concept represents a new way of thinking both for conversion and utilization of CO2 in flue gas without CO2 separation, and for production of industrially useful synthesis gas with desired H2/CO ratios using flue gas and natural gas. Experimental results with Ni catalysts will be reported.