Reforming of a model sulfur-free biogas on Ni catalysts supported on Mg(Al)O derived from hydrotalcite precursors: Effect of La and Rh addition

• Ni catalysts supported on calcined Mg–Al hydrotalcite, Mg(Al)O, were prepared.
• The effect of the addition of La and/or Rh to the catalysts was assessed.
• Rh and La addition increased the reducible Ni species and led to high C deposition.
• NiMgAl catalyst presented low C deposition and no deactivation during 24 h.

Ni catalysts supported on calcined Mg–Al hydrotalcite, Mg(Al)O, were prepared and the effect of the addition of La and/or Rh was tested in the performance of the catalysts in the dry reforming of methane with excess of methane in the feed, simulating a model sulfur-free biogas. The effect of adding synthetic air was assessed. The catalysts were characterized by surface area (BET), XRD, TPR and XPD. The results showed the reconstruction of the hydrotalcite structure during the Ni(NO3) impregnation, with the segregation of the lanthanum. In the catalyst without Rh and La, Ni showed a strong interaction with the support Mg(Al)O, showing high reduction temperatures in TPR test. The addition of Rh and La increased the amount of reducible Ni species and facilitated the reduction of the species interacting strongly with the support which resulted in high rates of carbon deposition. The NiMgAl catalyst presented the strong Ni-support interactions and the best performance with low carbon deposition at both conditions of reaction. The NiMgAl catalyst did not present deactivation during 24 h of stability testing in the oxidative reforming of a model biogas.