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), γ-Al2O3, α-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 H2-TPR analysis found that mainly spinel NiAl2O4 formed in meso-porous Al2O3 and γ-Al2O3-supported catalysts, while only NiO was detected in α-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/γ-Al2O3 and Ni/α-Al2O3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]