Reinforced nickel and nickel-platinum catalysts for performing the thermally coupled reactions of methane steam reforming and hydrogen oxidation

The formation of composite nickel and nickel-platinum catalysts reinforced with steel gauze was studied. The catalysts were prepared by sintering powdered nickel metal and a supported nickel catalyst (GIAP-3 or NIAP-18) with a chromium oxide additive in the case of nickel-containing composite catalysts or by sintering powdered nickel, aluminum, and a supported platinum catalyst in the case of catalysts containing nickel-platinum. With the use of electron microscopy, mercury porosimetry, and X-ray electron probe microanalysis, it was found that a metal matrix, in the pores of which supported catalyst particles were distributed, was formed in the composite catalysts. The reinforced nickel catalysts prepared were active in the reaction of methane steam reforming, and the catalysts containing nickel-platinum were active in the reaction of hydrogen oxidation. An increase in the activity of reinforced nickel catalysts in the course of the reaction was found. It is believed that the increase of the activity was due to the reduction of nickel oxide from an inactive difficult-to-reduce oxide film containing nickel and chromium oxides under the action of the reaction atmosphere.