Effects of small MoO3 additions on the properties of nickel catalysts for the steam reforming of hydrocarbons: II. NiMo/Al2O3 catalysts in reforming, hydrogenolysis and cracking of n-butane Original Research Article

Addition of molybdenum to nickel catalysts has a favourable effect on their properties in the steam reforming of hydrocarbons. Some attempts were made to explain the mechanism of promoter action by determining the properties of such catalysts in hydrogenolysis and cracking reactions. With small amounts of promoter (≤0.5 wt.%) advantageneous changes in selectivity of steam reforming and disadvantageneous changes in n-butane hydrogenolysis were observed. The promoter does not affect practically the catalyst properties in n-butane cracking. The effect of molybdenum was compared with that of potassium promoter applied in the industry.