Abstract
Carbon dioxide reforming of methane to synthesis gas over an alumina-supported 1% Ni-based catalyst was investigated at atmospheric pressure. The effects of activation and calcination temperatures and the addition of calcium promoted on dry reforming catalysts supported on low surface area alumina Ni/alpha-Al2O3 (SA-5239) were studied experimentally. In this study, the prepared catalyst was tested in a micro tubular reactor at temperature ranges of 500, 600, 700 and 800 degrees C, atmospheric pressure, using a total flow rate of 33 ml/min. of feed gas 3 ml/min of N-2, 15 ml/min of CO2 and 15 ml/min of CH4. The calcination was carried out in the range of 500-900 degrees C. The catalysts were activated inside the reactor at 500-800 degrees C using hydrogen gas. It was observed that calcination enhances catalyst activity which increases as calcination and reaction temperatures were increased. It was found essential activating reforming catalysts with H-2. The highest process activity was obtained at 800 degrees C reaction temperature by using catalyst calcined and activated at 900 degrees C and 700 degrees C respectively. The addition of Ca promoter decreases the coke formation on catalyst, however, It initially reduces the activity. The catalyst characterization conducted supported the observed experimental result