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U.S. Department of Energy
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The role of catalyst support on the activity of nickel for reforming methane with CO/sub 2/

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5997547

Thermodynamic studies were conducted to determine the operating conditions needed to inhibit carbon deposition and nickel carbide formation as well as to study the possible solid state reactions within the catalysts in reforming methane with CO/sub 2/. Five nickel commercial catalysts, manufactured for steam reforming, on supports containing alumina in different forms were studied and their catalytic activity, selectivity and stability were established using different feed ratios, space velaties and temperatures. Fused ..cap alpha..-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ was the only stable catalyst but yielded relatively lower conversion. Although ..gamma..-alumina partly reacted forming NiAl/sub 2/O/sub 4/ solid solution and partly transformed to ..cap alpha.. form with a resulted exothermic effect and drastic decrease in surface area, a decrease in conversion was not detected. ..cap alpha..-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ in presence of mullite caused rapid irreversible deactivation due to the exothermic formation of NiAl/sub 2/O/sub 4/ which shatters the support. On the other hand the presence of ..cap alpha..-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ in presence of MgAl/sub 2/O/sub 4/ or calcium aluminate gave high conversions which increase with time due to the formation of phases more active than metallic nickel. In both cases the resultant solid state reactions are endothermic and are accompanied by a decrease in surface area. In presence of MgAl/sub 2/O/sub 4/ the residual alumina forms NiAl/sub 2/O/sub 4/ which is soluble in MgAl/sub 2/O/sub 4/.

OSTI ID:
5997547
Report Number(s):
CONF-870323-
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English