Dry Reforming of Methane over Dual Metal Oxide Al₂O₃ + MO_x (M = Ti, Zr, Si, Y) Supported Ni Catalyst: A Simple and Practical Approach

The complex catalyst synthesis procedure is always a hurdle in the industrialization of catalysts. Industry eagerly needs catalysts for the dry reforming of methane, which can be prepared through straightforward, cheap processes by semi-skilled workers. Herein, dual metal oxide support 10 wt% MOx (M = Ti, Si, Zr, Y) & 90 wt% Al2O3 is prepared by just mixing mechanically and thereafter, catalytic active 5 wt% Ni is dispersed over the support by impregnation method. Metal oxide pairs in ZrO2 + Al2O3, TiO2-Al2O3, SiO2 + Al2O3, and Y2O3 + Al2O3 supports are non-interacting, partially-interacting, significantly interacting (through Si–O–Al) and highly interacting (with maximum covalence character) respectively. Ni dispersed over SiO2 + Al2O3 or Y2O3 + Al2O3 supports are strongly interacted, whereas Ni/Y2O3 + Al2O3 catalyst has oxide enrichment over the surface for potential oxidation of carbon deposit. The interacting nature of metal oxide pair in support, stability of active sites and extent of oxide enrichment over the surface confirms the following order of coke deposition, Ni/Y2O3 + Al2O3 (8%) < Ni/SiO2 + Al2O3 (17%) < Ni/TiO2-Al2O3 (38.2%) < Ni/ZrO2 + Al2O3 (52.3%), as well as reverse order of catalytic activity, Ni/Y2O3 + Al2O3 (60%) > Ni/SiO2 + Al2O3 (55%) > Ni/TiO2-Al2O3 (50%) > Ni/ZrO2 + Al2O3 (47%). Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]