Effect of Ce promotion on catalytic activity of Ni-Al catalysts in dry reforming of methane

Abstract

The Ni-Al, Ni-Ce and Ni-Ce-Al catalysts tested in the dry methane reforming (DRM) were studied. Catalysts were synthesized by solution combustion synthesis and characterized by BET, XRD and TEM. Catalytic activity was studied at 600–900 °C with a 33%CH4:33%CO2:34%Ar (vol.%) fed with total flow rate of 100 ml/ min (3000 h−1). The CH4 and CO2 conversion increased with the increasing of Ce up to 15 wt.%, however, with further increase in Ce content conversion of gases decreased. Carbon was formed as filaments when catalysts worked at high temperature. CeAlO3 species could prevent the formation of filamentous carbon during DRM. Solution combustion synthesis is attractive method of preparation of catalysts, due to high dispersion of Ni particles, thus, surface area is small, diminishing the coke deposition and enhancing the stability.