Effect of surfactant type on the synthesis of nanocrystalline MgAl 2 O 4 and its application as a support for Ni catalyst in the steam pre‐reforming of natural gas

Mesoporous nanocrystalline magnesium aluminate (MgAl 2 O 4 ) particles with different surface area (70–230 m 2 g −1 ) were synthesised via the homogeneous co‐precipitation method using different surfactants (cationic, anionic and non‐ionic). The obtained powders were used as the support to prepare 10.5 nickel (Ni)/MgAl 2 O 4 catalysts, and the resulting samples were tested in the steam pre‐reforming of natural gas. The obtained samples were characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET), X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis, transmission electron microscopy and temperature programmed desorption (TPD) techniques. Experimental results showed that the shape, surface area and porosity of MgAl 2 O 4 particles were strongly dependent on the type of surfactants used. In addition, the Ni catalyst supported on the MgAl 2 O 4 with the highest surface area exhibited the smallest size of Ni particles (14.1 nm). This catalyst has over 97% of ethane and propane conversions in steam pre‐reforming of natural gas under atmospheric pressure, 550°C, low steam to carbon molar ratio ( S / C = 1.5) and high gas hourly space velocity (GHSV = 100,000 ml g −1 catalyst h −1 ).