Preparation of porous Al2O3 by template method and its application in Ni-based catalyst for CH4/CO2 reforming to produce syngas

Abstract Four supports (SH0.01, SH0.02, SH0.03 and SH0.05) were synthesized by template method and compared with commercial carrier γ-Al 2 O 3 (SH0), and the corresponding NiO/Al 2 O 3 catalysts denoted as SHC0.01, SHC0.02, SHC0.03, SHC0.05 and SHC0 were prepared by hydrolysis-deposition method. BET results showed that the pore volumes of all carriers were about 0.41 cm 3  g −1 , and the SH0.02 support with surface area up to 477 m 2  g −1 and average pore diameter of 3.3 nm only. NH 3 -TPD results indicated that SH0.02 held the weakest surface acidity. XRD characterization results certificated that the SHC0.02 catalyst presented well NiO dispersion, and its Ni grain size was only 5.8 nm. H 2 -TPR characterization results demonstrated that the proportion of NiO reduction peak area of SHC0.02 in the total reduction peak area was 86%. Evaluation experiments showed that the SHC0.02 catalyst performed the highest activity and selectivity than others. And the filamentous carbon deposited from long time stability test didn't cause catalyst deactivation, but massive accumulation of which would make bed pressure drop increase.