A novel catalyst with plate-type anodic alumina supports, Ni/NiAl₂O₄/γ-Al₂O₃/alloy, for steam reforming of methane

A series of plate-type metal-monolithic anodic alumina supported nickel catalysts were employed to investigate their reactivity in the steam reforming of methane reactions. After H₂ reduction, a fresh 4.7 wt% Ni/γ-Al₂O₃/alloy catalyst provided only a short-term activity, and then deactivated quickly. By the temperature programmed reaction technologies, the oxidation of surface sintered metallic Ni particles in the SRM test was suggested to be the main reason for the catalyst deactivation. As a result, a 17.9 wt% Ni/NiAl₂O₄/γ-Al₂O₃/alloy catalyst with an interfacial NiAl₂O₄ layer was synthesized, which showed excellent SRM reactivity at 700 °C and this was believed to be resulted from the existence of interfacial NiAl₂O₄ layer which anchored the top metallic nickel particles and effectively suppressed catalyst sintering. Moreover, no unfavorable effect was evidenced over the SRM reactivity of anodic Ni catalysts when applying the electrically heated pattern. Nevertheless, for the industrialization of anodic nickel catalysts, some efforts should be made to alleviate the deterioration of anodic supports and the catalysts sintering under the SRM reactions.