Studies of reforming natural gas with carbon dioxide to produce synthesis gas X.: The role of CeO2 and MgO promoters

The behavior of carbon deposition on the Ni/Al2O3 catalysts promoted by CeO2, MgO and CeO2-MgO in CO2 reforming methane to synthesis gas was investigated using TG, CO2-TPD, TPSR, TPR and other techniques. The results indicate that the resistance to carbon deposition of catalysts promoted by CeO2 and MgO is improved. It is found that the promoter MgO is the most effective one in the suppression of CH4 dehydrogenation. The CeO2 promoted catalysts can lower the temperature of the reforming reaction of CH4 with CO2 and improve the resistance to carbon deposition. The enlarged experiment result shows that the activity promoted by CeO2 and MgO keeps well over 900 h. This indicates that the catalyst has nor only high activity and selectivity, but also high stability and good resistance to carbon deposition. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.