Nickel-alumina aerogel catalysts prepared by fast sol-gel synthesis

Mesoporous nickel-alumina aerogel catalysts with high surface area have been prepared by CO2 supercritical drying of alcogels obtained by the fast sol-gel process. The nickel phase was uniformly distributed in the alumina gel network ii-om transparent monolithic nickel-alumina co-gels by using nickel acetate as a metal precursor. The nickel-alumina aerogel catalysts prepared were characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption. TG/DTA, and reaction test, and their properties were compared with those of conventionally impregnated catalysts. Alumina aerogel-based nickel catalysts exhibited good activity and marked stability against coking in methane dry reforming. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.