<p class="Default">Nickel catalysts supported on different carriers (θ-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, γ-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, HZSM-5 with γ-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, HZSM-5, and NaX) have been investigated for the partial oxidation of methane. All the supported nickel catalysts showed a high activity for the formation of synthesis gas, and γ-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> was the most effective among all the tested carriers. The effect of the heat-treatment temperature of the 3 wt.% Ni/γ-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> catalyst on its catalytic activity was studied, and a considerable decrease in its activity was observed by the heat-treatment of the catalyst at 1000 °C compared with the catalysts prepared by the 300–800 °C – calcination. The XRD analysis suggested the formation of NiAl<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> that is a non-reducible compound at the high calcination temperature. The addition of a modifier (Co, Ce, or La) to the 3 wt.% Ni/γ-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> catalyst increased the selectivity to H<sub>2</sub> and CO with the decreasing selectivity to CO<sub>2</sub>, and the highest selectivity to H<sub>2</sub> was obtained by the 5 wt.% NiLa/γ-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. The developed 5 wt.% NiLa/γ-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> catalyst showed a high stability for 30 h for the partial oxidation of methane at 750 °C. The methane conversion reached 95%, selectivity to hydrogen 83% and 52% to carbon monoxide.</p>
Nickel Oxide Catalysts for Partial Oxidation of Methane to Synthesis Gas