Abstract
[Display omitted]
•Encapsulation of Ni metal particles within heat resistant oxide support Al2O3.•Modification of Surface by MOx (M = Ti, Mo, W, Zr, Si, B) modifier.•Re-modulation of Ni dispersion-stability, surface porosity, basicity & reducibility.•Fine correlation of activity and characterization result scopes featured industrial catalyst.
Dry reforming of methane (DRM) for the production of synthesis gas (syngas: H2+CO) was performed over a series of nickel-based catalysts supported on γ-alumina promoted by B, Si, Ti, Zr, Mo and W. All catalysts were prepared by the wet incipient impregnation method and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 physisorption, H2-TPR, CO2-TPD, XPS, SEM and TGA. Among different catalysts investigated, 5Ni3SiAl and 5Ni3WAl catalytic systems were found highly active with excellent coke resistance in DRM, as both catalyst systems showed >64% CH4 conversion, >70% CO2 conversion, and >0.90 mol H2/CO ratio over seven hours of reaction.
The strong interaction between NiO and γ-alumina support in the presence of Si or W oxide modifier (in 5Ni3SiAl or 5Ni3WAl) was indicated as the main factor positively affecting both Ni dispersion and stability.