Syngas production via methane tri-reforming on Ni/La 2 O 3 –αAl 2 O 3 catalysts

Ni/La 2 O 3 –αAl 2 O 3 catalysts were characterized and tested in the methane tri-reforming reaction. The catalysts were prepared by the combustion method, and characterized by nitrogen physisorption, SEM, XRD, and Rietveld refinement, H 2 -TPR, and CO 2 -TPD. The metallic dispersion of Ni in the catalysts increased with the addition and increase of La 2 O 3 amount. The reaction tests showed that the addition of La 2 O 3 , and the consequent increase in the metallic dispersion of Ni, influenced the catalytic results, favoring the selectivity towards H 2 production, leading to higher resistance to carbon deposition on the catalyst surface. However, there was a decrease in the selectivity towards H 2 and a higher rate of carbon deposition for catalysts with a higher additive content, having its maximum even with the increase in Ni dispersion, with the catalyst N10LαA. This result suggests that there was a limit for the La 2 O 3 content, above which there would no longer be observed beneficial effects for the reforming process. The N2.5LαA catalyst showed the highest selectivity towards H 2 and the lowest carbon deposition rate among the catalysts.