Oxidative-reforming of model biogas over NiO/Al2O3 catalysts: The influence of the variation of support synthesis conditions

- Precipitation pH and ageing T °C of Al2O3 influenced the performance of Ni/Al2O3.
- Ni catalysts supported on Al2O3 obtained at pH 7 recorded high conversion values.
- Catalysts supported on Al2O3 obtained at pH 7 and 80 °C are promissory for reforming of biogas.
- Catalysts supported on Al2O3 obtained at pH 6 deactivated readily during reaction.

In this study, nickel catalysts (20 wt%) supported on γ-Al2O3 were prepared by the impregnation method. The γ-Al2O3, was synthesized by precipitation of bayerite gel obtained from aluminum scrap. The synthetic conditions of the bayerite gel varied as follows: precipitation pH ranging from 6 to 7; ageing temperature ranging from 25 to 80 °C, the calcination temperature for all samples was 500 °C. The catalysts and the supports were analyzed by temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), physisorption of N2 (BET), X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Isopropanol decomposition reactions over the catalysts were carried out to evaluate their acidity. SEM images of the spent catalysts showed that the morphology of the carbon formed during the reaction is of the filamentous type. The TPR analysis of the catalysts showed the presence of NiO species weakly interacted with the support as well as stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric nickel aluminate, the reduction of these species was also observed by XANES analysis. XRD analysis of the fresh catalyst showed peaks assigned to NiO, NiAl2O4 and γ-Al2O3. The best catalysts (samples NiAl7-25 and NiAl7-80) synthesized in this report showed high stability and high conversion values (CH4 (70%) and CO2 (78%)). These catalysts showed better performance than the catalyst supported on commercial γ-Al2O3, which showed a high coke formation which affected the course of the reaction. The γ-Al2O3 synthesized from bayerite obtained at neutral pH conditions was the best support for nickel catalysts in the oxidative-reforming of model biogas.