Improved stability of nickel-alumina aerogel catalysts for carbon dioxide reforming of methane

Abstract

CO2 reforming of methane was carried out over nickel-alumina aerogel catalysts prepared with various Ni loadings. Compared with alumina-supported Ni catalyst prepared by conventional impregnation method, nickel-alumina aerogel catalysts exhibited remarkably low coking rate due to highly dispersed metal particles. From TEM studies, it was observed that the metal particle size significantly influenced the formation of filamentous carbon. Addition of potassium to the nickel-alumina aerogel catalysts appeared to improve the stability of the catalyst at 923 K while the effect was not clear at higher temperatures.