Production of the hydrogen by methane steam reforming over nickel catalysts prepared from hydrotalcite precursors

Catalysts were prepared from hydrotalcite precursors, characterized and tested in the reaction of methane steam reforming to produce hydrogen. The precursors were synthesized by: the traditional technique, with co-precipitation of Ni, Mg and Al nitrates with carbonate; co-precipitation of Mg and Al nitrates with pre-synthesized nickel chelate and anion-exchange of NO3− of hydrotalcite with nickel chelate. The oxides were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, specific surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed reduction (TPR) with H2, catalytic tests and elemental analysis. The catalytic tests demonstrated high methane conversion, high activity for hydrogen production and high stability during the time of reaction for a molar ratio in the feed H2O:CH4 = 2:1.