Dry reforming of methane over catalysts derived from nickel-containing Mg–Al layered double hydroxides

We present the synthesis and structural characterization of new nickel-containing Mg–Al layered double hydroxides (LDH), which adopt a structure in which nickel, chelated with ethylenediaminetetraacetate to a divalent anion [Ni(EDTA)]2−, is nested between brucite-like layers of LDH. The corresponding LDH-derived Ni–Mg–Al mixed oxides demonstrated high and stable catalytic function toward the reaction of methane reforming with carbon dioxide into synthesis gas at 800 °C. It is shown that the state of the supported nickel and the coke deposition process were significantly influenced by the method of catalyst preparation.