Development of highly effective supported nickel catalysts for pre-reforming of liquefied petroleum gas under low steam to carbon molar ratios

The pre-reforming of commercial liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) was investigated over Ni–CeO2 catalysts at low steam to carbon (S/C) molar ratios less than 1.0. It was found that the catalytic activity and selectivity depended strongly on the nature of the support and the interaction between Ni and CeO2. The Ni–CeO2/Al2O3 catalysts, which were prepared by impregnating boehmite (AlOOH) with an aqueous solution of cerium and nickel nitrates, exhibited the optimal catalytic activity and remarkable stability for the steam reforming of LPG in the temperature range of 275–375 °C. The effects of CeO2 loading, reaction temperature and S/C ratio on the catalytic behavior of the Ni–CeO2/Al2O3 catalysts were discussed in detail. The results showed that the catalysts with 10 wt.% CeO2 had the highest catalytic activity, and higher S/C ratios contributed to LPG reforming and the methanation of carbon oxides and hydrogen. The XRD and H2-TPR analyses revealed that the strong interaction between Ni and CeO2 resulted in the formation of CeAlO3 in the Ni–CeO2/Al2O3 catalysts reduced. The stability tests of 15Ni–10CeO2/Al2O3 catalyst at 350 °C indicated that the catalyst was stable, and the stability could be enhanced by increasing S/C ratio.