Ni/x%Nb2O5/Al2O3 Catalysts Prepared via Coprecipitation-Wet Impregnation Method for Methane Steam Reforming

Abstract

Hydrogen has been considered the energy source of the future and one of the processes for its production is the methane steam reforming. The catalyst used industrially is Ni/Al2O3 and the addition of promoter oxides can be an alternative to improve the performance of this catalyst, which suffers from coke formation and sintering. Evaluate the role of niobia on catalytic activity and stability. Ni/x%Nb2O5/Al2O3 (x = 5, 10 and 20) catalysts were synthesized via coprecipitation-wet impregnation method and characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), N2 adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature- programmed reduction (TPR), temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (TPD-NH3), etc. Finally, the catalysts were tested for methane steam reforming reaction. All niobia-doped catalysts presented similar values of methane conversion and when comparing with Ni-Al, the addition of niobia slightly improved the methane conversion. In the stability test at 800oC, all doped and non-doped catalysts did not deactivate during the 24 h of reaction. The addition of 10 and 20 wt.% of niobia had a significant promoter effect over Ni/Al2O3 catalyst in terms of activity and stability at 800 oC and the sample with 20 wt.% of niobia presented lower coke formation.