Combined partial oxidation and dry reforming of methane to synthesis gas over noble metals supported on Mg–Al mixed oxide

Combined partial oxidation and dry reforming of methane (PO–DRM) to synthesis gas at 850°C over noble metals, supported on Mg–Al mixed oxide, has been studied. Ruthenium, rhodium, and platinum catalysts were prepared from layered double hydroxide (LDH) precursors, synthesized by a reconstruction reaction of Mg–Al mixed oxide. Due to a “memory effect” of a calcined hydrotalcite, a layered structure of catalyst precursors was recreated upon exposure of the mixed oxide to an aqueous solution of noble metals, which were pre-chelated with ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) to anionic species. Among the three metals tested, ruthenium revealed the most attractive catalytic performance toward PO–DRM reaction. It was shown that amount of metal could be lowered from 2.0 to 0.1% of the weight of support without any decrease in catalytic activity or in selectivity to syngas product.