Supported nickel catalysts for carbon dioxide reforming of methane in plugflow and membrane reactors

The catalytic production of synthesis gas through methane reforming using c arbon dioxide was studied in a plug flow reactor and a membrane reactor at atmospheric pressure over nickel supported on MgO and La2O3. The Ni0.03Mg0. 97O and the Ni/La2O3 catalysts exhibited high activity and gave conversions of methane at equilibrium levels in the plug flow mode of operation. Incor poration of a Vycor glass membrane in the reactor resulted in higher conver sions than obtained in an identical plug flow reactor operated without dilu ent. The catalysts had low to moderate surface areas and low uptakes of H-2 and CO at room temperature. X-ray diffraction showed that there was no dis cernable change between the catalysts before and after reaction. Elemental analysis showed that there was little carbon deposited on the Ni0.03Mg0.97O catalyst but there was slight coking on the Ni/La2O3 catalyst. (C) 1999 El sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.