Dry Reforming of Methane over Dual Metal Oxide Al₂O₃ + MO_x (M = Ti, Zr, Si, Y) Supported Ni Catalyst: A Simple and Practical Approach

The complex catalyst synthesis procedure is always a hurdle in the industrialization of catalysts. Industry eagerly needs catalysts for the dry reforming of methane, which can be prepared through straightforward, cheap processes by semi-skilled workers. Herein, dual metal oxide support 10 wt% MOx (M = Ti, Si, Zr, Y) & 90 wt% Al₂O₃ is prepared by just mixing mechanically and thereafter, catalytic active 5 wt% Ni is dispersed over the support by impregnation method. Metal oxide pairs in ZrO₂ + Al₂O₃, TiO₂-Al₂O₃, SiO₂ + Al₂O₃, and Y₂O₃ + Al₂O₃ supports are non-interacting, partially-interacting, significantly interacting (through Si–O–Al) and highly interacting (with maximum covalence character) respectively. Ni dispersed over SiO₂ + Al₂O₃ or Y₂O₃ + Al₂O₃ supports are strongly interacted, whereas Ni/Y₂O₃ + Al₂O₃ catalyst has oxide enrichment over the surface for potential oxidation of carbon deposit. The interacting nature of metal oxide pair in support, stability of active sites and extent of oxide enrichment over the surface confirms the following order of coke deposition, Ni/Y₂O₃ + Al₂O₃ (8%) < Ni/SiO₂ + Al₂O₃ (17%) < Ni/TiO₂-Al₂O₃ (38.2%) < Ni/ZrO₂ + Al₂O₃ (52.3%), as well as reverse order of catalytic activity, Ni/Y₂O₃ + Al₂O₃ (60%) > Ni/SiO₂ + Al₂O₃ (55%) > Ni/TiO₂-Al₂O₃ (50%) > Ni/ZrO₂ + Al₂O₃ (47%).