Hydrogen production by methane steam reforming over Ru supported on Ni–Mg–Al mixed oxides prepared via hydrotalcite route

•The impregnation of ruthenium enhances the reactivity of the solids in the MSR.•The good reactivity was attributed to the formation of oxides of Ru and Ni easily reducible.•The Ru–Ni interaction is enough to get high activity and selectivity.

Catalytic performance of Ru/NixMg6−xAl2 800 800 mixed oxides, with x = 2, 4 and 6, x being the molar ratio, towards Methane Steam Reforming, was studied. NixMg6−xAl2 800 oxide, used as support, was prepared via hydrotalcite route. It was thermally stabilized at 800 °C, impregnated with 0.5 wt.% ruthenium using ruthenium (III) nitrosyl nitrate Ru(NO) (NO3)3 precursor and then calcined again at 800 °C under an air flow. Ruthenium impregnation significantly enhanced the reactivity of the oxides in Methane Steam Reforming. In fact, it was found, that even with a low ruthenium content (0.5 wt.%), ruthenium oxide particles are formed but are well dispersed over the surface of the oxide NixMg6−xAl2 800.Ru/Ni6Al2 800 800 showed better catalytic performances, towards Methane Steam Reforming, than ruthenium impregnated on the two other supports. Indeed, nickel content is higher in Ni6Al2 800 than in the other studied supports and therefore the probability of Ni–Ru interaction should be greater and consequently catalytic performances could be improved.