Zirconia promoted metallic nickel catalysts for the partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas

A metallic Ni catalyst was prepared with nickel sponge, followed by acid treatment. It was further promoted with zirconia by an impregnation method. The catalysts were characterized by ICP, BET, SEM, XRD and H2-TPR, and studied in the partial oxidation of methane to syngas. The characterization results show that the ZrO2 promoted metallic Ni catalysts has high specific surface area and there is more NiO phase in the ZrO2 promoted catalysts than in the metallic Ni catalyst. The reaction results show that the zirconia promotion increases the CH4 conversion and the selectivity to H2 and CO.