Synthesis and support composition effects on CH4 partial oxidation over Ni–CeLa oxides

Abstract Two series of Ni (6 wt%) catalysts supported over CeO 2 , La 2 O 3 and mixed CeO 2 –La 2 O 3 were prepared by co-precipitation and by wet-impregnation. The effect of the two Ni loading procedures on the catalyst structural properties was investigated by XRD, TPR and XPS. The catalytic behavior of the catalysts was tested in the methane partial oxidation reaction performed at 1 atm in a temperature range of 400–800 °C using dilute feed gas mixture with CH 4 /O 2  = 2 and gas hourly space velocity of 60,000 ml g −1  h −1 . Total methane combustion was observed within the 450 °C ≤  T ≤ 650 °C temperature range. Above 650 °C partial oxidation of methane started to occur, reaching at 80…