Characteristics of Ni/3d Series Transition Metal/γ-Al2O3 Catalysts and their Hydrogen Production Abilities from Butane Steam Reforming

The materials composed of the 3d series transition metals are introduced into the hydrocarbon steam-reforming reaction in order to enhance the H-2 production and abruptly depress the catalytic deactivation resulting from the strong sintering between the Ni component and the gamma-Al2O3 support. The conventional impregnation method is used to synthesize the Ni/3d series metal/gamma-Al2O3 materials through the sequentially loading Ni source and the 3d series metal (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, and Zn) sources onto the gamma-Al2O3 support. The Mn-loaded material exhibits a significantly higher reforming reactivity than the conventional Ni/gamma-Al2O3 and the other Ni/3d series metal/gamma-Al2O3 materials. Particularly the addition of Mn selectively improves the H-2 product selectivity by eliminating the formation of CH4 and CO. The H-2 production is maximized at a value of 95% over Ni(0.3)/Mn(0.3)/gamma-Al2O4(1.0) with a butane conversion of 100% above 750 degrees C for up to 55 h.