Oxidative CO2 reforming of CH4 over Ni/α-Al2O3 catalyst

Oxidative carbon dioxide reforming of methane to synthesis gas over alumina-supported Ni catalysts was investigated at atmospheric pressure. The reforming reactions were carried out using a CO2 to CH4 feed ratio of one and reaction temperatures in the range 600–800 °C. The activity and stability of the catalyst, carbon deposition, and synthesis gas (H2/CO) ratio were determined. Catalyst deactivation was primarily due to coke formation. energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermo-gravimetric/differential analyzer (TG/DTA) techniques were used to confirm carbon deposition. It was observed that increasing the oxygen feed concentration and/or reaction temperatures, enhanced methane conversion and reduced coke formation. When 20% O2 feed was used at 800 °C, catalyst stability test revealed a 99.7% CH4 conversion, 1.0% CH4 conversion drop and 1% carbon formation.