Ni/CeO2-Al2O3 catalysts for the dry reforming of methane: The effect of CeAlO3 content and nickel crystallite size on catalytic activity and coke resistance

Abstract The catalytic performances of Ni/CeO 2 –Al 2 O 3 catalysts for the dry reforming of CH 4 (DRM) were investigated. Catalysts with different Ni dispersion and different amount of CeAlO 3 species were prepared by different methods and characterized by BET, XRD, XPS, Raman, TPR and TPO techniques. Catalytic activity was studied during time on stream in the range 873–1073 K with a mixture of CH 4 :CO 2 :Ar = 40:40:20 vol.% and GHSV 90,000 cm 3  g −1  h −1 . The intrinsic catalytic activity increased with the increasing of Ni crystallite size. Carbon was deposited as nano-fibres and graphite when catalysts worked at lower temperature, and the largest amount was found on the catalyst with the largest Ni crystallite size. The formation of graphitic deposits is limited by the presence of CeAlO 3 species formed during catalyst activation. CA preparation method results particularly attractive because it allows to obtain catalysts with small Ni crystallite size and high content of CeAlO 3 species, which both have a role in suppressing the carbon deposition and therefore in obtaining stable catalytic performances.