z Mosayebi - Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran
m Rezaei - Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran Catalyst and Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran
a Biabani Ravandi - Catalyst and Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran
n Hadian - Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran

In this paper autothermal reforming of methane (ATR) was carried out over MgAl2O4 supported Ni catalysts with various Ni loadings. MgAl2O4 spinel with high specific surface area, as nanocrystalline carrier for nickel catalysts was synthesized by co-precipitation method with the addition of pluronic P123 triblock copolymer as surfactant. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and N2 adsorption (BET) techniques. The results demonstrated that methane conversion is significantly increased with increasing the Ni content and methane conversion of 15% Ni/MgAl2O4 was higher than that of other catalysts in all operation temperatures. Furthermore the influences of H2O/CH4 and O2/CH4 molar ratio in feed and GHSV on activity of 5% Ni/MgAl2O4 catalyst were investigated.

Autothermal reforming, MgAl2O4, Syngas, Nickel catalyst