Propane dry reforming over highly active NiO-MgO solid solution catalyst for synthesis gas production

In the present study, the textural characteristics and catalytic efficiency of the NiO(x)-MgO solid-solution catalysts (x =10,15,20, and 25 wt.%) were determined in CO2 reforming of propane. All samples were fabricated by the simple mechanochemical preparation route. The chemicophysical characteristics of the synthesized catalysts were determined using XRD, BET, H2-TPR, TPO, and SEM exams. The obtained results demonstrated that the physicochemical properties and catalytic activity of the samples were affected with the increment in NiO content, which is assigned to the change in the concentration of active sites and improvement of the reduction features. The NiO(25)-MgO catalyst was selected as the sample with the highest activity, and the effect of the operating factors and calcination temperature were studied over this catalyst. Also, the TPO analysis showed that the whisker carbon was formed on the spent catalyst and the sample with 25 wt.% Ni possessed the highest amount of deposited carbon. Moreover, the initial catalytic activity of all catalysts was not changed during 300 min time on stream.