Highly active Ni/MgO in oxidative steam pre-reforming of n-butane for fuel cell application

Oxidative steam reforming of n-butane over supported Ni catalysts at relatively low temperature, 723 K, is reported. Among all the supported 20 wt% Ni catalysts studied, only Ni/MgO was able to convert n-butane directly after O2 oxidation. Additionally, when the Ni/MgO was prepared from an aqueous Ni(NO3)2 solution with pH 7, H2 formation rate of Ni/MgO (pH 7) at a high SV (1660 l(h · g)−1) was 2.3 times as high as that of conventional Ni/MgO. The higher activity of Ni/MgO (pH 7) was ascribed to stronger resistance against oxidation of Ni0 due to the formation of relatively large Ni0 particles.