Hydrogen production from carbon dioxide reforming of methane over highly active and stable MgO promoted Co–Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalyst

CoNi/Al2O3 and MgCoNi/Al2O3 catalysts are investigated for hydrogen production from CO2 reforming of CH4 reaction at the gas hourly space velocity of 40,000 mL g−1 h−1. The MgO promoted CoNi/Al2O3 catalyst shows much higher conversions (97% for CO2 and 95% for CH4 at 850 °C) than the CoNi/Al2O3 catalyst. In addition, the stability is maintained for 200 h in CO2 reforming of CH4. The outstanding catalytic activity and stability of the MgO promoted CoNi/Al2O3 catalyst is mainly due to the basic nature of MgO, an intimate interaction between Ni and the support, and rapid decomposition/dissociation of CH4 and CO2, resulting in preventing coke formation in CO2 reforming of CH4. •CoNi/Al2O3 and MgCoNi/Al2O3 have been investigated for H2 production from CDR.•MgCoNi/Al2O3 catalyst showed much higher conversion than the CoNi/Al2O3 catalyst.•The stability of MgCoNi/Al2O3 catalyst was maintained for 200 h in CDR.•This is due to the basic nature of MgO and a strong Ni to MgO interaction.