Nickel supported on mesoporous alumina for dry reforming of methane: Combustion method

Ni catalysts supported on ordered mesoporous alumina (OMA) were prepared by EISA method and calcined under air and Ar atmospheres. Both catalysts showed stable performance for the dry reforming of methane for 24 h, however the catalytic activity of Ar calcined catalyst was relatively lower than that in the air calcined one. It was found that the carbon (C_β) layer around nickel particles was observed for the Ar calcined catalyst after dry reforming of methane. The encapsulating carbon species in the Ar calcined catalyst lowering the mass transfer rate of feeds led to lower performance, but no whisker carbon was observed. In the case of the air calcined catalyst, whisker carbon (C_v) which is inactive during dry reforming was accumulated on the catalyst, and it resulted in catalyst breakdown and pressure drop during the reaction.