Dry reforming of methane over NiMgA1La Hydrotalcite catalysts : the role of Lanthanum Doping

Abstract

A series of NixMgyAl1.8La0.2 were synthesized by hydrotalcite route and calcined at 800oC. Physico-chemical characterizations were conducted before and after calcination. These characterization techniques included X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermal Gravimetric/ Differential Thermal Analysis (TG/DTA), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), determination of specific surface areas by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller Method (BET) method and Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR). The catalytic performance of these catalysts was tested in the Dry Reforming of Methane (DRM). Both characterization and catalytic test results were compared to the results of a series of NixMgyAl2 catalysts such as to evaluate the role of lanthanum doping and its impact on the catalytic activity of the catalysts. It was found that the addition of lanthanum resulted in improved catalytic activity in the DRM reaction. This improvement can be attributed to the formation of more basic sites and the presence of La2O3 after calcination which reduces coke formation.