Ce promoting effect on the activity and coke formation of Ni catalysts supported on mesoporous nanocrystalline γ-Al2O3 in autothermal reforming of methane

In this study methane autothermal reforming (ATR) was investigated over Ni/Al2O3 and Ni/Al2O3-CeO2 catalysts. The catalyst carriers were prepared through a facile one-step method, which produced mesoporous nanocrystalline carriers for Ni catalysts. The samples were characterized by XRD, TPR, BET, TPO and SEM characterization techniques and the catalytic activity and stability were also studied at different conditions (GHSV and feed ratio) in methane ATR. It was found that the nickel catalyst supported on 3 wt.% Ce-Al2O3 exhibited higher activity compared to the catalysts supported on the Al2O3 and promoted Al2O3 with 1 and 6 wt.% Ce. The results also showed that the nickel catalyst supported on 3 wt.% Ce-Al2O3 possessed the highest resistance against carbon deposition in ATR reaction.