Tailoring Ni/Beta Zeolite Catalysts for Efficient Dry Methane Reforming: A Study on Pretreatment and Reaction Conditions

This study evaluates the performance of Ni-La2O3/Beta catalysts for the dry reforming of methane, focusing on the effects of nickel loading, catalyst pretreatment, reaction temperature, and gas composition and flow rate. Catalysts with nickel contents ranging from 3 to 20 percent by weight were prepared via wet impregnation and characterized by gas adsorption, X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction with hydrogen, thermogravimetric analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The results indicate that nickel gradually incorporates into the zeolitic support, preferentially occupying the most stable sites. Direct reduction of the impregnated catalyst precursors—omitting the calcination step—yielded materials with slightly higher methane conversion (ca. 3.5%) and enhanced stability. This improved performance is attributed to the reduction occurring during the thermal decomposition of supported nickel nitrate, which promotes finer nickel dispersion and stronger interaction with the La2O3-modified Beta zeolite.