Abstract
Global warming is a serious problem that must be urgently addressed. Synthesis gas can be produced via the dry reforming of methane using CO2. In this study, a kaolin-supported nickel catalyst was investigated for the production of synthesis gas. In addition, the effect of doping with cesium or mixed potassium and sodium-based promoters on the desired catalyst was studied, and it was found that the promoter enhanced the conversion and stabilized the H-2/CO ratio. The catalyst containing 3% mixed potassium-sodium promoter showed excellent catalytic performance, having an initial CH4 conversion as high as 74.4% and a steady H-2/CO ratio of almost unity. The catalysts were also characterized using nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, thermal programmed oxidation, and thermal programmed reduction.