Supported nickel catalysts with a controlled molecular architecture for the catalytic reformation of methane

In this work a lanthanum and nickel catalyst having perovskite structure, grown on a gamma-alumina carrier, is being presented. The structure of the catalyst was confirmed by XRD. The behaviour of this material under the conditions of steam reforming has been studied and the influence of the temperature, the space velocity and the steam/carbon ratio on the conversion of methane and the product distribution in the process was determined. In all cases at higher temperatures conversions of more than 90% and high selectivities were achieved. The experiments to determine the stability of the catalyst demonstrated that no deactivation in experimental runs of more than 17h occurred. Additionally a study of the catalyst after the reaction showed that only lowly structured carbonaceous species were formed on the catalyst surface, which is not expected to inhibit strongly the initial catalytic activity. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.