Mixed and autothermal reforming of methane with supported Ni catalysts with a core/shell structure

Supported nickel catalysts with a core/shell structure of Ni/Al2O3 and Ni/MgO–Al2O3 synthesized under multi-bubble sonoluminescence (MBSL) conditions were tested for mixed steam and dry (CO2) reforming and autothermal reforming of methane. In the previous tests, the supported Ni catalysts made of 10% Ni loading on Al2O3 or MgO–Al2O3 had shown good performances in the steam reforming of methane (methane conversion of 97% at 750 °C), in the partial oxidation of methane (methane conversion of 96% at 800 °C) and in dry reforming of methane (methane conversion of 96% at 850 °C) and showed high thermal stability for the first 50–150 h. In this study, the supported Ni catalysts showed good performance in the mixed and autothermal reforming of methane with their excellent thermal stability for the first 50 h. In addition, very interestingly, there was no appreciable carbon deposition on the surface of the tested catalysts after the reforming reaction.