Chemical looping (CL) offers a route in which a pure H2 stream can be produced and CO2 can be utilised into CO via methane (CH4) pyrolysis. In this work, we investigate alkali earth metals-supported Fe2O3, i.e. calcium, magnesium, and strontium ferrites, in a combined CL-pyrolysis and CO2 utilisation. The process consists of: (i) reduction of the ferrites in CH4, (ii) H2 production via catalytic methane pyrolysis (CH4(g)⇋C(s)+H2(g)), (iii) CO synthesis via coke gasification(C(s)+CO2(g)⇋+2CO(g)). The reduced Ca/Mg/Sr ferrites contain metallic Fe (e.g. Fe0), which acts as a catalyst for CH4 pyrolysis to H2 and solid carbon. These Fe-based catalysts are formed from abundant elements and are environmentally benign (unlike Nickel-based materials). Also, the addition of Ca/Mg/Sr to the Fe oxides may also improve sintering resistance of unsupported Fe2O3. The regeneration reaction for the Ca/Mg/Sr ferrites occurs at sufficiently low equilibrium oxygen partial pressures to allow them to be oxidised in CO2 or steam as well as O2. The potential of these reduced Ca/Mg/Sr ferrites in driving catalytic CH4 pyrolysis and their cyclic performance is investigated in a fluidised bed.
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