Mixed metal oxide extrudate catalyst

1. A method of making a Ce 0.6 Zr 0.4 O 2 supported NiMg catalyst extrudate, the method comprising:

(a) preparing a ceria-zirconia solution comprising Ce(NO 3 ) 3 .6H 2 O, ZrO(NO 3 ) 2 .xH 2 O, and water;

(b) combining the ceria-zirconia solution and NH 4 OH to produce a precipitate;

(c) drying and calcining the precipitate to produce a Ce 0.6 Zr 0.4 O 2 ;

(d) forming a nickel-magnesium solution comprising Ni(NO 3 ) 2 .6H 2 O and Mg(NO 3 ) 2 .6H 2 O dissolved in water;

(e) adding the nickel-magnesium solution to the Ce 0.6 Zr 0.4 O 2 to produce the NiMg/Ce 0.6 Zr 0.4 O 2 ;

(f) ball milling the NiMg/Ce 0.6 Zr 0.4 O 2 to produce a NiMg/Ce 0.6 Zr 0.4 O 2 powder;

(g) combining the NiMg/Ce 0.6 Zr 0.4 O 2 powder with a binder and water to produce a mixture;

(h) extruding the mixture through a die to produce a wet extrudate; and

(i) drying and calcining the wet extrudate to produce the Ce 0.6 Zr 0.4 O 2 supported NiMg catalyst extrudate.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mass ratio of the Ce(NO 3 ) 3 .6H 2 O to the ZrO(NO 3 ) 2 .xH 2 O is about 1.5 to 3.5.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in step (c) the drying is performed by heating the precipitate to a first elevated temperature of about 110° C. to 130° C.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the heating is performed for a period of time of at least 6 hours.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in step (c) the calcining is performed by heating the precipitate to a second elevated temperature of about 700° C. to 900° C. at a rate of about 5° C./min to 15° C./min and maintaining the second elevated temperature for a period of at least 2 hours.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a mass ratio of Ni(NO 3 ) 2 .6H 2 O to Mg(NO 3 ) 2 .6H 2 O is about 0.4 to 1.0.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the NiMg/Ce 0.6 Zr 0.4 O 2 powder is about a −625 mesh.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a mass ratio of the NiMg/Ce 0.6 Zr 0.4 O 2 powder to the binder is about 10 to 90.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a mass ratio of the NiMg/Ce 0.6 Zr 0.4 O 2 powder to the water is about 1.5 to 7.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of gum guar, microcrystalline cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, magnesium stearate, carboxymethyl cellulose, phenolic resin, petroleum resin, bentonite clay, molasses, alumina, aluminate silicate, methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, polyvinyl acetate, vegetable hydrocolloid, polyvinyl butyal, acrylic polymer, animal protein, cellulose ether, polymethyl methacrylate, locust bean, gelatine, and a combination thereof.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the die has a diameter of about 1 mm to 4 mm.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in step (i) the drying is performed by heating the wet extrudate to a first elevated temperature of about 100° C. to 150° C.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in step (i) the calcining is performed by heating the wet extrudate to a second elevated temperature of about 400° C. to 600° C. at a rate of about 5° C./min to 20° C./min.

14. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising in step (i) maintaining the second elevated temperature for a period of time of at least 2 hours.

15. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising pressing the wet extrudate from step (h) prior to the drying and calcining in step (i).

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the wet extrudate is pressed at a force of at least 4000 lbs.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mass ratio of the Ce(NO 3 ) 3 .6H 2 O to the ZrO(NO 3 ) 2 .xH 2 O is about 1.5 to 3.5;

wherein the mass ratio of Ni(NO 3 ) 2 .6H 2 O to Mg(NO 3 ) 2 .6H 2 O is about 0.4 to 1.0;

wherein the NiMg/Ce 0.6 Zr 0.4 O 2 powder is about a −625 mesh;

wherein the mass ratio of the NiMg/Ce 0.6 Zr 0.4 O 2 powder to the binder is about 10 to 90; and

wherein the mass ratio of the NiMg/Ce 0.6 Zr 0.4 O 2 powder to the water is about 1.5 to 7.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of gum guar, microcrystalline cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, magnesium stearate, carboxymethyl cellulose, phenolic resin, petroleum resin, bentonite clay, molasses, alumina, aluminate silicate, methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, polyvinyl acetate, vegetable hydrocolloid, polyvinyl butyal, acrylic polymer, animal protein, cellulose ether, polymethyl methacrylate, locust bean, gelatine, and a combination thereof.

19. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in step (c) the drying is performed by heating the precipitate to a first elevated temperature of about 110° C. to 130° C. for a period of time of at least 6 hours;

wherein in step (c) the calcining is performed by heating the precipitate to a second elevated temperature of about 700° C. to 900° C. at a rate of about 5° C./min to 15° C./min and maintaining the second elevated temperature for a period of at least 2 hours;

wherein in step (i) the drying is performed by heating the wet extrudate to a first elevated temperature of about 100° C. to 150° C.; and

wherein in step (i) the calcining is performed by heating the wet extrudate to a second elevated temperature of about 400° C. to 600° C. at a rate of about 5° C./min to 20° C./min and maintaining the second elevated temperature for a period of time of at least 2 hours.