Investigation of Suitable Pretreatment for Dry Reforming of Methane Over Ni/Al₂O₃

Carbon dioxide reforming of methane to synthesis gas over an alumina-supported 1% Ni-based catalyst was investigated at atmospheric pressure. The effects of activation and calcination temperatures and the addition of calcium promoted on dry reforming catalysts supported on low surface area alumina Ni/α-Al2O3 (SA-5239) were studied experimentally. In this study, the prepared catalyst was tested in a micro tubular reactor at temperature ranges of 500, 600, 700 and 800°C, atmospheric pressure, using a total flow rate of 33 ml/min. of feed gas 3 ml/min of N2, 15 ml/min of CO2 and 15 ml/min of CH4. The calcination was carried out in the range of 500-900°C. The catalysts were activated inside the reactor at 500-800°C using hydrogen gas. It was observed that calcination enhances catalyst activity which increases as calcination and reaction temperatures were increased. It was found essential activating reforming catalysts with H2.The highest process activity was obtained at 800°C reaction temperature by using catalyst calcined and activated at 900°C and 700°C respectively. The addition of Ca promoter decreases the coke formation on catalyst, however, It initially reduces the activity. The catalyst characterization conducted supported the observed experimental result