The results of carbon dioxide reforming of CH₄ (model biogas) on catalysts prepared by solution combustion synthesis (SCS) and impregnation of moisture capacity methods are presented. Investigation of the activity of catalysts synthesized from initial mixtures of Co(NO₃)₂-Al(NO₃)₃-urea of different compositions was carried out for the production of synthesis-gas, and SCS and traditional incipient wetness impregnation catalyst preparation methods were compared. The methane conversion reached 100%, and the conversion of CO₂ increased to 86.2%, while the yield of H₂ and CO was 99.2% and 85.4%, respectively, at 900 °C. It was found that CoAl₂O₄ spinel formation was due to substitution of Al³⁺ with Co²⁺ cations. Consequently, CoAl₂O₄ lattice parameters increased, since the ionic radius of Al³⁺ (0.51 Å) less than Cο²⁺ (0.72 Å). Advantages of SCS catalysts in comparison with catalysts prepared by the traditional incipient wetness impregnation method in dry reforming of methane were shown. The aim of this work is to develop a new catalyst for the conversion of model biogas into synthesis gas, which will contribute to the organization of a new environmentally friendly, energy-saving production in the future.

The worldwide increase in demand for environmentally friendly energy has led to the intensification of work on the synthesis of H₂-containing fuel. The dry reforming of methane has become one of the most important avenues of research since the consumption of two greenhouse gases reduces the rate of global warming. A study of NiAl composite materials as catalysts for methane reforming has been carried out. Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) has been used to produce NiAl catalysts. Comparative studies were carried out regarding the dry reforming and partial oxidation of methane, as well as catalysts prepared using the impregnation (IM) and SHS methods. A catalyst with 29% Ni and 51% Al after SHS contains the phases of NiAl and NiAl₂O₄, which are active phases in the dry reforming of methane. The optimal crystal lattice parameter (for the maximum possible conversion of CO₂ and CH₄) is 3.48–3.485 Å for Al₂O₃, which plays the role of a catalyst carrier, and 1.42 Å, for NiAl₂O₄, which plays the role of a catalyst. The aim of the work is to develop a new and efficient catalyst for the dry reforming of methane into a synthesis gas, which will further promote the organization of a new era of environmentally friendly energy-saving production methods.

Co–Mg catalysts for methane combustion were synthesized and studied, revealing the transformation of MgCo₂O₄ spinel into a CoO–MgO solid solution with oxygen release from the spinel lattice as the calcination temperature increased. Repeated heat treatment of the calcined solid solution at lower temperatures led to spinel regeneration with segregation of the solid solution phase. A TPR of the samples showed the presence of two characteristic peaks, the first of which relates to the transition of Co³⁺_Oh spinel to the Co²⁺_Oh structure of CoO, and the second to the reduction of CoO to Co°. The second peak was observed at 540–620 °C for samples calcined at temperatures below spinel decomposition, and for high-temperature samples at 900–1100 °C. Taking into account the identity of the structure of phases obtained in both cases, the formation of not a true CoO–MgO solid solution, but rather a mixture of ordered oxides (“pseudo-solid solution”) in the low-temperature region, was postulated. A study of the activity of the samples showed the high activity of the spinel systems and a linear relationship between the activation energy of methane oxidation and the heat treatment temperature.

Cobalt-based catalysts containing Ce, La and Al were prepared via solution combustion synthesis (SCS) and used in dry reforming of methane (DRM).