Catalysis Letters, Vol.89, No.1-2, 121-127, 2003
Investigation of CH4 reforming with CO2 on meso-porous Al2O3-supported Ni catalyst
Meso-porous Al2O3-supported Ni catalysts exhibited the highest activity, stability and excellent coke-resistance ability for CH4 reforming with CO2 among several oxide-supported Ni catalysts (meso-porous Al2O3 (Yas1-2, Yas3-8), gamma-Al2O3, gamma-Al2O3, SiO2, MgO, La2O3, CeO2 and ZrO2). The properties of deposited carbons depended on the properties of the supports, and on the meso-porous Al2O3-supported Ni catalyst, only the intermediate carbon of the reforming reaction formed. XRD and H-2-TPR analysis found that mainly spinel NiAl2O4 formed in meso-porous Al2O3 and gamma-Al2O3-supported catalysts, while only NiO was detected in gamma-Al2O3, SiO2, CeO2, La2O3 and ZrO2 supports. The strong interaction between Ni and meso-porous Al2O3 improved the dispersion of Ni, retarded its sintering and improved the activated adsorption of CO2. The coking reaction via CH4 temperature-programed decomposition indicated that meso-porous Al2O3-supported Ni catalysts were less active for carbon formation by CH4 decomposition than Ni/gamma-Al2O3 and Ni/alpha-Al2O3.