Active Surface Carbon—A Reactive Intermediate in the Production of Synthesis Gas from Methane and Carbon Dioxide

Abstract

Pulse chemisorption studies reveal that a subsequent reaction is part of the mechanism of the formation of synthesis gas from CH 4 and CO 2 , known since 1928. In the first step CH 4 is decomposed on a Rh/A1 2 O 3 catalyst into reactive surface carbon C S and H 2 ; in the second step C 8 reacts with CO 2 to give CO, but it is still not clear whether this step is also catalyzed by Rh.