The influence of La2O3 and TiO2 on NiO/MgO/α-Al2O3

The effect of La2O3 and TiO2 on product selectivity, methane conversion and coke formation over NiO/MgO/ α -Al2O3 catalyst were studied in a simultaneous steam and CO2 reforming of methane to syngas. La2O3 and TiO2 were added to the catalyst via incipient wetness impregnation and bulk precipitation techniques and catalyst activity was tested in a fixed bed quartz reactor. Results reveal that although the addition of these oxides has no effect on the product selectivity and methane conversion, but can reduce coke formation on the surface of the catalysts as  it can  enhance the mobility of lattice oxygen anions. The results further show that the catalysts prepared by bulk precipitation technique decrease the coke formation more effectively.