Carbon formation and steam reforming of methane on silica supported nickel catalysts

Steam reforming of methane normally requires extra steam feed in order to inhibit the carbon formation. A catalyst with enhanced coke resistance is always helpful to reduce the use of steam and to save the energy. Dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) plasma, initiated at ambient condition, was applied for the decomposition of nickel precursor to prepare Ni/SiO2 for steam reforming of methane. The catalyst prepared this way shows an intrinsically low activity with small size, leading to a good balance between the carbon formation and the carbon gasification by steam at low H2O/CH4 ratio. An enhanced coke resistance has been thus achieved. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.