Effect of Fe or Cu addition on Ni/Mg-Al and Ni/MgO catalysts in the steam-reforming of methane

Abstract

Two series of catalysts were studied: (i) Ni/Mg-Al, Ni-Fe/Mg-Al and Ni-Cu/Mg-Al (prepared by co-precipitation) and (ii) Ni/MgO, Ni-Fe/MgO and Ni-Cu/MgO (prepared by impregnation) with the aim to be tested in methane steam reforming. The catalysts were calcined at Tc=600-900°C, characterized by chemical analysis, BET surface areas, XRD, TPR, SEM and TEM-EDX then tested in steam reforming of methane in the temperature range Tr=600-800°C. XRD analysis showed, for both preparation, the presence of NiO-MgO, NiAl2O4 or MgAl2O4 solid solutions, Fe2O3 and CuO oxides; free NiO was not observed. The reducibility of the catalysts increased in the presence of Fe, due to the reduction assistance of this element. The catalytic performances decreased with increasing calcination temperature due to the progressive incorporation of NiO in the structure of solid solutions. The catalytic activity increased in …