Ni, Co, Mg, and Al mixed-oxide solids, synthesized via the hydrotalcite route, were investigated in previous works toward the dry reforming of methane for hydrogen production. The oxide Co2Ni2Mg2Al2 calcined at 800 °C, Co2Ni2Mg2Al2800, showed the highest catalytic activity in the studied series, which was ascribable to an interaction between Ni and Co, which is optimal for this Co/Ni ratio. In the present study, Co2Ni2Mg2Al2800 was compared to a commercial catalyst widely used in the industry, Ni(50%)/Al2O3, and showed better activity despite its lower number of active sites, as well as lower amounts of carbon on its surface, i.e. less deactivation. In addition to this, Co2Ni2Mg2Al2800 showed stability for 20 h under stream during the dry reforming of methane. This good durability is attributed to a periodic cycle of carbon deposition and removal as well as to the strong interaction between Ni and Co, preventing the deactivation of the catalyst. The evaluation of the catalytic performances in the presence of toluene, which is an impurity that exists in biogas, is also a part of this work. In the presence of toluene, the catalytic activity of Co2Ni2Mg2Al2800 decreases, and higher carbon formation on the catalyst surface is detected. Toluene adsorption on catalytic sites, side reactions performed by toluene, and the competition between toluene and methane in the reaction with carbon dioxide are the main reasons for such results.
Keywords: carbon dioxide; cobalt; dry reforming; hydrogen; hydrotalcite; methane; nickel; toluene.