As hydrated magnesium-aluminum-silicate crystals, attapulgite and HNO3/NaOH pretreated attapulgite were used as support to prepare nickel-based catalysts via ultrasonic assisted impregnation method. The as-prepared catalysts were employed in the biomass derived gas (especially CO2 and CH4) reforming with a considerable catalytic performance achieved (CH4 conversion: 75.26%, CO2 conversion: 85.75%) over HNO3-attapulgite (10% Ni) at 700 degrees C and GHSV of 36000 mL/g.h during 600 min, demonstrating the potential of modified attapulgite as support applied in catalytic reforming. According to the characterization results obtained from BET/FT-IR/H-2-TPR/XRD/SEWTPO, it was found that the formation of (Ni, Mg) containing phyllosilicate improved metal sintering resistance by the confinement effect. Besides, FT-IR results illustrated the existence of hydroxyl in the catalyst structure, which was beneficial for inhibiting the Boudouard side reaction, further enhancing the carbon resistance of catalysts. Moreover, TPO results showed that the deposited carbon on modified attapulgite was mainly fibrous carbon which can be removed easily, thus maintaining the catalytic performance. Due to its unique structure and high metal sintering resistance, it is believed that the attapulgite supported catalyst can be used in any other catalytic reforming process such as steam reforming of methane. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.