• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 2006

The steam reforming of methane over Ru-promoted $Ni/Al_2O_3$ was carried out. Compared with $Ni/Al_2O_3$, which needs pre-reduction by $H_2$, $Ru/Ni/Al_2O_3$ catalysts exhibited relatively higher activity than conventional $Ni/Al_2O_3$. According to $H_2-TPR$ of reduced or used catalysts and $CH_4-TPR$, it was revealed that the reduction of $RuO_x$ by $CH_4$ decomposition begins at a lower temperature ($220^{\circ}C$) and the reduced Ru facilitates the reduction of NiO, and leads to self-activation. To improve metal dispersion, the catalyst was soaked in 7 M aqueous $NH_4OH$ for 2 h at $45^{\circ}C$ while stirring. As a result, $Ru/Ni/Al_2O_3$ catalysts with aqueous $NH_4OH$ treatment have higher activity, larger metal surface area (by $H_2$-chemisorption), and small particle size (by XRD and XPS). It is noted that the amount of noble metal could be reduced by aqueous $NH_4OH$ treatment.