Highly active and stable Ni/ZrO2 catalyst for syngas production by CO2 reforming of methane

CO2 reforming of CH4 was studied at 1030K over Ni/ZrO2 catalysts with diffe rent preparations. It was shown that catalytic stability depends greatly on the preparation method of the support precursor. The catalyst prepared by impregnation of ultra-fine Zr(OH)(4) (6 nm) particles with nickel nitrate s howed high and extremely stable activity for syngas production. In contrast , the nickel catalyst prepared using bigger Zr(OH)(4) particles deactivated rapidly. Also, the nickel catalyst made from co-precipitation of ultra-fin e nickel-zirconium hydroxide (7 nm) was not resistant to coke deposition du ring the reaction. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.