Abstract: Nickel molybdenum carbide catalysts were prepared and their activities in the CO₂ reforming of methane at a low CO₂/CH₄ reactant ratio were investigated using a microreactor at atmospheric pressure and at 973 K. The effect of the catalyst preparation method and the Ni/Mo ratio on the increase in catalyst life and the promotion of catalytic activity were investigated using N₂ adsorption, X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed carburization, temperature-programmed reaction, and a reforming reaction. The 25Ni75Mo catalyst that was carburized at 813 K exhibited the highest hydrogen formation ability and gave the least carbon deposition. The incomplete carburization of the Mo oxide species in the catalyst that was carburized at a lower temperature gradually gave a more active carburized species. The NiMoO_xC_y in the catalyst was more active in hydrogen formation during the dry reforming of methane while β-Mo₂C and η-Mo₃C₂ were less active.

Key words: catalyst activation, catalyst selectivity, fuel, dry reforming, methane