The Effect of Modifiers on the Performance of Ni/CeO2 and Ni/La2O3 Catalysts in the Oxy–Steam Reforming of LNG

This work interrogates for the first time the catalytic properties of various monometallic Ni catalysts in the oxy-steam reforming of LNG. Various research techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), specific surface area and porosity analysis (BET method), scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis (SEM-EDS), temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (TPD-NH3), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR-H2) and the FTIR method, were used to study their physicochemical properties. The mechanism of the oxy-steam reforming of LNG is also discussed in this paper. The high activity of monometallic catalysts supported on 5% La2O3–CeO2 and 5% ZrO2–CeO2 oxides in the studied process have been proven and explained on the basis of their acidity, specific surface area, sorption properties in relation to the reaction products, the crystallite size of the metallic nickel and their phase composition.