Steam Reforming of N-Dodecane over Mesoporous Alumina Supported Nickel Catalysts: Effects of Metal-Support Interaction on Nickel Catalysts

Abstract

Developing a highly active and stable Ni-based catalyst is still a challenge for the generation of on-site hydrogen through steam reforming of long-chained hydrocarbons, such as kerosene fuels. Ni nanoparticles (ca. 5 nm) on mesoporous alumina prepared by atomic layer deposition (ALD) were employed in steam reforming of n-dodecane, and exhibited a turnover frequency (TOF) of 477.6 h-1, whereas Ni nanoparticles on commercial alumina support prepared by impregnation method exhibited a TOF of 100 h-1. The high activity of ALD Ni catalysts was ascribed to high reduction degree, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and H2-chemisorption. A deactivation was also observed on the ALD prepared catalysts, which was ascribed to the weak metal-support interaction, as confirmed by H2 temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). The ALD Ni/Al2O3 catalysts were further modified with CeO2 and they showed enhanced stability with 8% deactivation degree in steam reforming of n-dodecane. Further characterizations of spent catalysts showed that the presence of CeO2 was favorable for stabilizing Ni nanoparticles by enhancing moderate metal-support interaction, and reducing the formation of coke on the interfaces of Ni-CeO2.

Department(s)

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Research Center/Lab(s)

Intelligent Systems Center

Comments

This research was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China ( 21 , 522 , 605 ). The ALD work in this research was supported by the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund.

Keywords and Phrases

Ceria; Metal-support interaction; N-dodecane; Ni/Al2O3 catalyst; Steam reforming

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0360-3199

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Mar 2019

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