Nickel catalysts promoted with cerium and lanthanum to reduce carbon formation in partial oxidation of methane reactions Original Research Article

Mixed oxides of nickel, magnesium and aluminum were prepared by precursors hydrotalcite type and were substituted by lanthanum or cerium using the method of anion exchange. The catalysts were characterized by X-Ray Photoelectronic Spectroscopy (XPS); Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS); Surface Area Method BET; X-Ray Diffraction (XRD); Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR) and Catalytic Tests. Analysis of the mixed oxides suggests that the hydrotalcite type precursor after thermal treatment lead a good dispersion of nickel forming the periclase (Ni, Mg)O replaced by cations of Al3+ and spinel structure (Ni,Mg)Al2O4. The catalysts were tested in the partial oxidation of methane and the results showed that the catalysts promoted with lanthanum and cerium led to a reduction in the velocity of the carbon formation.