Preparation and characterization of active Ni/MgO in oxidative steam reforming of n-C4H10

Oxidative steam reforming of n-C4H10 over MgO-supported Ni catalysts is described. The Ni/MgO catalysts were prepared by the impregnation method from aqueous Ni(NO3)2 precursor solutions at two pH values. Ni/MgO prepared at pH 7 exhibited considerably higher activity than Ni/MgO prepared from a conventional acidic aqueous precursor solution (pH 3.5). The H2 formation rate for the modified Ni/MgO was up to 2.3 times that for conventional Ni/MgO under a high space velocity of 1660 L(h g)−1. Furthermore, after reduction at high temperature (1273 K), the modified Ni/MgO showed a higher H2 formation rate than did Rh/MgO. The superior performance of the modified Ni/MgO was ascribed to stronger resistance to oxidation of Ni0 due to the formation of relatively large Ni0 particles.