Low carbon deposition on CO2 reforming of methane over Ni/Al2O3 catalysts prepared using W/O microemulsion

The catalytic activity and durability for the CO, reforming of methane was studied on an Ni/Al2O3 catalyst prepared using water-in-oil (w/o) microemul sion. The initial activity of the Ni/Al2O3 catalyst thus prepared was highe r than that of an impregnated one. The impregnated catalyst deactivated wit h time-on-stream. due to severe coking. In contrast, the catalyst prepared using w/o microemulsion kept its activity for 50 h and caused little coking at a CO2/CH4 molar ratio above 1.4. The carbon species deposited on the ca talyst prepared using w/o microemulsion was less crystallized than that on the impregnated one. The superior resistance of the catalyst to carbon depo sition is attributed to the generation of such a carbon species.