Effect of Al2O3-ZrO2 xerogel support on hydrogen production by steam reforming of LNG over Ni/Al2O3-ZrO2 catalyst

• Published in: The Korean journal of chemical engineering 2008, 25(1), 112, pp.41-45
• Main Authors: Seo, Jeong Gil, Youn, Min Hye, Cho, Kyung Min, Park, Sunyoung, Lee, Sang Hee, Lee, Joohyung, Song, In Kyu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biotechnology; Catalysis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Industrial Chemistry; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Materials Science; Reaction Engineering; 화학공학
• ISSN: 0256-1115; 1975-7220
• DOI: 10.1007/s11814-008-0007-4

An Al 2 O 3 -ZrO 2 xerogel (AZ-SG) was prepared by a sol-gel method for use as a support for a nickel catalyst. The Ni/AZ-SG catalyst was then prepared by an impregnation method, and was applied to hydrogen production by steam reforming of LNG. A nickel catalyst supported on commercial alumina (A-C) was also prepared (Ni/A-C) for comparison. The hydroxyl-rich surface of the AZ-SG support increased the dispersion of nickel species on the support during the calcination step. The formation of a surface nickel aluminate-like phase in the Ni/AZ-SG catalyst greatly enhanced the reducibility of the Ni/AZ-SG catalyst. The ZrO 2 in the AZ-SG support increased the adsorption of steam onto the support and the subsequent spillover of steam from the support to the active nickel sites in the Ni/AZ-SG catalyst. Both the high surface area and the well-developed mesoporosity of the Ni/AZ-SG catalyst improved the gasification of adsorbed surface hydrocarbons in the reaction. In the steam reforming of LNG, the Ni/AZ-SG catalyst showed a better catalytic performance than the Ni/A-C catalyst. Moreover, the Ni/AZ-SG catalyst showed strong resistance toward catalyst deactivation.