Mesoporous Nickel-Alumina Catalysts for Hydrogen Production by Steam Reforming of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

摘要

Recent progress on the mesoporous nickel-alumina catalysts for hydrogen production by steam reforming of liquefied natural gas (LNG) was reported in this review. A number of mesoporous nickel-alumina composite catalysts were prepared by a single-step surfac-tant-templating method using cationic, anionic, and non-ionic surfactant as structure-directing agents for use in hydrogen production by steam reforming of LNG. For comparison, nickel catalysts supported on mesoporous aluminas were also prepared by an impregnation method. The effect of preparation method and surfactant identity on physicochemical properties and catalytic activities of mesoporous nickel-alumina catalysts in the steam reforming of LNG was investigated. Regardless of preparation method and surfactant identity, nickel oxide species were finely dispersed on the surface of mesoporous nickel-alumina catalysts through the formation of surface nickel aluminate phase. However, nickel dispersion and nickel surface area of mesoporous nickel-alumina catalysts were strongly affected by the preparation method and surfactant identity. It was found that nickel surface area of mesoporous nickel-alumina catalyst served as one of the important factors determining the catalytic performance in hydrogen production by steam reforming of LNG. Among the catalysts tested, a mesoporous nickel-alumina composite catalyst prepared by a single-step non-ionic surfactant-templating method exhibited the best catalytic performance due to its highest nickel surface area.