Enhanced activity and stability for combined steam and CO2 reforming of methane over NiLa/MgAl2O4 catalyst

Ni-based catalysts were widely studied for methane reforming system in the past decades, while catalytic deactivation by carbon deposition and metal sintering limited its industrial application life. In this work, Lapromoted Ni/MgAl2O4 catalysts were investigated over methane bi-reforming reaction, and significantly improved the activity and stability of catalysts. Multiple characterizations showed that the introduction of La increased the content and dispersion of active species (Ni0), providing sufficient sites for methane adsorption and dissociation. Besides, smaller particle size of active metal (12.6 nm) was proved to inhibiting carbon accumulation on catalyst surface. Ni10La5/MgAl2O4 catalyst was found to exhibit the highest catalytic performance (93% of CH4 conversion, 71% of CO2 conversion and less than 3% activity loss) under long-term reaction conditions (800 degrees C, 10 h). This work will provide important guiding significance for the design of high-efficiency methane reforming catalysts.

Automated summary

Ni-based catalysts have been extensively studied for methane reforming, but their industrial application is limited by catalytic deactivation. In this study, La-promoted Ni/MgAl2O4 catalysts were investigated for methane bi-reforming and showed improved activity and stability. Characterizations revealed that the introduction of La increased the content and dispersion of active species (Ni0) and inhibited carbon accumulation on catalyst surface. The Ni10La5/MgAl2O4 catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic performance (93% CH4 conversion, 71% CO2 conversion, <3% activity loss) under long-term reaction conditions. This study has important guiding significance for the design of high-efficiency methane reforming catalysts.