Synthesis of nickel supported catalysts for hydrogen production by sol-gel method

SiO2 and Al2O3 supported Ni catalysts were synthesized in the form of xerogels: the SiO2 based materials were prepared starting from Ni propionate or glycolate salts and reacting them with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in propionic acid, Si(ethylene glycolate) or sodium silicate. The Al2O3 supported catalysts were prepared similarly from Ni propionate salts with Al iso-propoxide salts. Narrow metal particles and strong metal support interactions are observed in the sol-gel catalysts. The metal dispersion was higher for Al2O3 based materials than the SiO2 ones and it deeply depends on the Ni precursor for the silica supported Ni. Wet impregnated oxides with similar Ni loading have higher metal surface area than those from sol-gel processing. The influence of surface differences on the catalytic activity of the materials was studied following the CH4 and CO2 reaction in dry reforming conditions by pulse reaction tests.