Regeneration of copper catalysts mediated by molybdenum-based oxides

Cu catalysts,known for their unparalleled catalytic capabilities due to their unique electronic structure,have faced inherent challenges in maintaining long-term effectiveness under harsh hydrogenation conditions.Here,we demonstrate a molybdenum-mediated redispersion behavior of Cu under hightemperature oxidation conditions.The oxidized Cu nanoparticles with rich metal-support interfaces tend to dissolve into the MoO_(3)support upon heating to 600℃,which facilitates the subsequent regeneration in a reducing atmosphere.A similar redispersion phenomenon is observed for Cu nanoparticles supported on Zn O-modified MoO_(3).The modification of ZnO significantly improves the performance of the Cu catalyst for CO_(2)hydrogenation to methanol,with the high activity being well maintained after four repeated oxidation-reduction cycles.In situ spectroscopic and theoretical analyses suggest that the interaction involved in the formation of the copper molybdate-like compound is the driving force for the redispersion of Cu.This method is applicable to various Mo-based oxide supports,offering a practical strategy for the regeneration of sintered Cu particles in hydrogenation applications.

Selective Hydrodeoxygenation of Lignin-Derived Vanillin via Hetero-Structured High-Entropy Alloy/Oxide Catalysts

The chemoselective hydrodeoxygenation of natural lignocellulosic materials plays a crucial role in converting biomass into value-added chemicals.Yet their complex molecular structures often require multiple active sites synergy for effective activation and achieving high chemoselectivity.Herein,it is reported that a high-entropy alloy(HEA)on high-entropy oxide(HEO)hetero-structured catalyst for highly active,chemoselective,and robust vanillin hydrodeoxygenation.The heterogenous HEA/HEO catalysts were prepared by thermal reduction of senary HEOs(NiZnCuFeAlZrO_(x)),where exsolvable metals(e.g.,Ni,Zn,Cu)in situ emerged and formed randomly dispersed HEA nanoparticles anchoring on the HEO matrix.This catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic performance:100%conversion of vanillin and 95%selectivity toward high-value 2-methyl-4 methoxy phenol at low temperature of 120℃,which were attributed to the synergistic effect among HEO matrix(with abundant oxygen vacancies),anchored HEA nanoparticles(having excellent hydrogenolysis capability),and their intimate hetero-interfaces(showing strong electron transferring effect).Therefore,our work reported the successful construction of HEA/HEO heterogeneous catalysts and their superior multifunctionality in biomass conversion,which could shed light on catalyst design for many important reactions that are complex and require multifunctional active sites.

Ca and Sr co-doping induced oxygen vacancies in 3DOM La_(2-x)Sr_(x)Ce_(2-y)CayO_(7-δ)catalysts for boosting low-temperature oxidative coupling of methane

It is urgent to develop catalysts with application potential for oxidative coupling of methane(OCM)at relatively lower temperature.Herein,three-dimensional ordered macro porous(3 DOM)La_(2-x)Sr_(x)Ce_(2-y)CayO_(7-δ)(A_(2)B_(2)O_(7)-type)catalysts with disordered defective cubic fluorite phased structure were successfully prepared by a colloidal crystal template method.3DOM structure promotes the accessibility of the gaseous reactants(O2and CH4)to the active sites.The co-doping of Ca and Sr ions in La_(2-x)Sr_(x)Ce_(2-y)CayO_(7-δ)catalysts improved the formation of oxygen vacancies,thereby leading to increased density of surface-active oxygen species(O_(2)^(-))for the activation of CH4and the formation of C2products(C2H6and C2H4).3DOM La_(2-x)Sr_(x)Ce_(2-y)CayO_(7-δ)catalysts exhibit high catalytic activity for OCM at low temperature.3DOM La1.7Sr0.3Ce1.7Ca0.3O7-δcatalyst with the highest density of O_(2)^(-)species exhibited the highest catalytic activity for low-temperature OCM,i.e.,its CH4conversion,selectivity and yield of C2products at 650℃are 32.2%,66.1%and 21.3%,respectively.The mechanism was proposed that the increase in surface oxygen vacancies induced by the co-doping of Ca and Sr ions boosts the key step of C-H bond breaking and C-C bond coupling in catalyzing low-temperature OCM.It is meaningful for the development of the low-temperature and high-efficient catalysts for OCM reaction in practical application.

A critical review towards the causes of the iron-based catalysts deactivation mechanisms in the selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur from biogas

Hydrogen sulfide(H_(2)S) not only presents significant environmental concerns but also induces severe corrosion in industrial equipment,even at low concentrations.Among various technologies,the selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide(SOH_(2)S) to elemental sulfur(S) has emerged as a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution.Due to its unique properties,iron oxide has been extensively investigated as a catalyst for SOH_(2)S;however,rapid deactivation has remained a significant drawback.The causes of iron oxide-based catalysts deactivation mechanisms in SOH_(2)S,including sulfur or sulfate deposition,the transformation of iron species,sintering and excessive oxygen vacancy formation,and active site loss,are thoroughly examined in this review.By focusing on the deactivation mechanisms,this review aims to provide valuable insights into enhancing the stability and efficiency of iron-based catalysts for SOH_(2)S.

Designing Oxide Catalysts for Oxygen Electrocatalysis: Insights from Mechanism to Application

The electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction(OER) are fundamental processes in a range of energy conversion devices such as fuel cells and metal–air batteries. ORR and OER both have significant activation barriers, which severely limit the overall performance of energy conversion devices that utilize ORR/OER. Meanwhile, ORR is another very important electrochemical reaction involving oxygen that has been widely investigated. ORR occurs in aqueous solutions via two pathways: the direct 4-electron reduction or 2-electron reduction pathways from O_(2) to water(H_2O) or from O_(2) to hydrogen peroxide(H_2O_(2)). Noble metal electrocatalysts are often used to catalyze OER and ORR, despite the fact that noble metal electrocatalysts have certain intrinsic limitations, such as low storage. Thus, it is urgent to develop more active and stable low-cost electrocatalysts, especially for severe environments(e.g., acidic media). Theoretically, an ideal oxygen electrocatalyst should provide adequate binding to oxygen species. Transition metals not belonging to the platinum group metal-based oxides are a low-cost substance that could give a d orbital for oxygen species binding. As a result, transition metal oxides are regarded as a substitute for typical precious metal oxygen electrocatalysts. However, the development of oxide catalysts for oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions still faces significant challenges, e.g., catalytic activity, stability, cost, and reaction mechanism. We discuss the fundamental principles underlying the design of oxide catalysts, including the influence of crystal structure, and electronic structure on their performance. We also discuss the challenges associated with developing oxide catalysts and the potential strategies to overcome these challenges.

Gold/Mg-Al mixed oxides catalysts for oxidative esterification of methacrolein:Effects of support size and composition on gold loading

Gold catalysts supported on Mg-Al mixed oxides for oxidative esterification of methacrolein are prepared by impregnation.Effects of the support particle size,concentration of HAuCl4 solution and Mg/Al ratio on gold loading and catalytic properties are investigated.The catalysts are characterized by CO_(2)-TPD,EDS,XPS,STEM and XRD techniques.Catalysts with smaller support particle size show more uniform gold distribution and higher gold dispersion,resulting in a higher catalytic performance,and the uniformity of gold and the activity of the catalysts with larger support particle size can be improved by decreasing the concentration of HAuCl4 solution.The Mg/Al molar ratio has significant effect on the uniformity of gold and the activity of the catalyst,and the optimum Mg/Al molar ratio is 0.1–0.2.This study underlines the importance of engineering support particle size,concentration of HAuCl4 solution and density of adsorption sites for efficient gold loading on support by impregnation.

Direct production of hydrogen peroxide over bimetallic CoPd catalysts:Investigation of the effect of Co addition and calcination temperature

A series of CoPd/KIT-6 bimetallic catalysts with various Co:Pd molar ratios at different calcination temperatures were prepared and used for the direct synthesis of H_(2)O_(2) from H_(2) and O_(2).These catalysts were characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption,low and wide-angle X-ray diffraction(XRD),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),elemental mapping and energy-dispersive X-ray(EDX)methods.It was found that the particle size,electronic interactions,morphology,and textural properties of these catalysts as well as their catalytic activity in the reaction of H_(2) with O_(2) were affected by Co addition and different calcination temperatures.Also,the results showed that while the H_(2)O_(2) selectivity depends on Pd^(2+) species,the H_(2) conversion is related to Pd0 active sites.Among these catalysts,CoPd/KIT-6 calcined at 350℃(CoPd/KIT-350 catalyst)showed the best catalytic activity with 50%of H_(2)O_(2) selectivity and 51%conversion of H_(2).

Catalytic removal of volatile organic compounds using ordered porous transition metal oxide and supported noble metal catalysts

Most of volatile organic compounds （VOCs） are harmful to the atmosphere and human health. Cata‐lytic combustion is an effective way to eliminate VOCs. The key issue is the availability of high per‐formance catalysts. Many catalysts including transition metal oxides, mixed metal oxides, and sup‐ported noble metals have been developed. Among these catalysts, the porous ones attract much attention. In this review, we focus on recent advances in the synthesis of ordered mesoporous and macroporous transition metal oxides, perovskites, and supported noble metal catalysts and their catalytic oxidation of VOCs. The porous catalysts outperformed their bulk counterparts. This excel‐lent catalytic performance was due to their high surface areas, high concentration of adsorbed oxy‐gen species, low temperature reducibility, strong interaction between noble metal and support and highly dispersed noble metal nanoparticles and unique porous structures. Catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide over typical catalysts was also discussed. We made conclusive remarks and pro‐posed future work for the removal of VOCs.

Nanoparticle Exsolution on Perovskite Oxides:Insights into Mechanism,Characteristics and Novel Strategies

Supported nanoparticles have attracted considerable attention as a promising catalyst for achieving unique properties in numerous applications,including fuel cells,chemical conversion,and batteries.Nanocatalysts demonstrate high activity by expanding the number of active sites,but they also intensify deactivation issues,such as agglomeration and poisoning,simultaneously.Exsolution for bottomup synthesis of supported nanoparticles has emerged as a breakthrough technique to overcome limitations associated with conventional nanomaterials.Nanoparticles are uniformly exsolved from perovskite oxide supports and socketed into the oxide support by a one-step reduction process.Their uniformity and stability,resulting from the socketed structure,play a crucial role in the development of novel nanocatalysts.Recently,tremendous research efforts have been dedicated to further controlling exsolution particles.To effectively address exsolution at a more precise level,understanding the underlying mechanism is essential.This review presents a comprehensive overview of the exsolution mechanism,with a focus on its driving force,processes,properties,and synergetic strategies,as well as new pathways for optimizing nanocatalysts in diverse applications.

Efficient and stable PtFe alloy catalyst for electrocatalytic methanol oxidation with high resistance to CO

Direct methanol fuel cells(DMFC) are widely considered to be an ideal green energy conversion device but their widespread applications are limited by the high price of the Pt-based catalysts and the instability in terms of surface CO toxicity in long-term operation.Herein,the PtFe alloy nanoparticles(NPs) with small particle size(~4.12 nm) supported on carbon black catalysts with different Pt/Fe atomic ratios(Pt_(1)Fe_(2)/C,Pt_(3)Fe_(4)/C,Pt_(1)Fe_(1)/C,and Pt_(2)Fe_(1)/C) are successfully prepared for enhanced anti-CO poisoning during methanol oxidation reaction(MOR).The optimal atomic ratio of Pt/Fe for the MOR is 1:2,and the mass activity of Pt_(1)Fe_(2)/C(5.40 A mg_(Pt)^(-1)) is 13.5 times higher than that of conventional commercial Pt/C(Pt/C-JM)(0.40 A mg_(Pt)^(-1)).The introduction of Fe into the Pt lattice forms the PtFe alloy phase,and the electron density of Pt is reduced after forming the PtFe alloy.In-situ Fourier transform infrared results indicate that the addition of oxyphilic metal Fe has reduced the adsorption of reactant molecules on Pt during the MOR.The doping of Fe atoms helps to desorb toxic intermediates and regenerate Pt active sites,promoting the cleavage of C-O bonds with good selectivity of CO_(2)(58.1%).Moreover,the Pt_(1)Fe_(2)/C catalyst exhibits higher CO tolerance,methanol electrooxidation activity,and long-term stability than other Pt_(x)Fe_(y)/C catalysts.

Bimetallic CoNi single atoms supported on three-dimensionally ordered mesoporous chromia:highly active catalysts for n-hexane combustion

Developing the alternative supported noble metal catalysts with low cost,high catalytic efficiency,and good resistance toward carbon dioxide and water vapor is critically demanded for the oxidative removal of volatile organic compounds(VOCs).In this work,we prepared the mesoporous chromia-supported bimetallic Co and Ni single-atom(Co_(1)Ni_(1)/meso-Cr_(2)O_(3))and bimetallic Co and Ni nanoparticle(Co_(NP)Ni_(NP)/mesoCr_(2)O_(3))catalysts adopting the one-pot polyvinyl pyrrolidone(PVP)-and polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)-protecting approaches,respectively.The results indicate that the Co_(1)Ni_(1)/meso-Cr_(2)O_(3)catalyst exhibited the best catalytic activity for n-hexane(C_(6)H_(14))combustion(T_(50%)and T_(90%)were 239 and 263℃ at a space velocity of 40,000 mL g^(-1)h^(-1);apparent activation energy and specific reaction rate at 260℃ were 54.7 kJ mol^(-1)and 4.3×10^(-7)mol g^(-1)_(cat)s^(-1),respectively),which was associated with its higher(Cr^(5+)+Cr^(6+))amount,large n-hexane adsorption capacity,and good lattice oxygen mobility that could enhance the deep oxidation of n-hexane,in which Ni_(1) was beneficial for the enhancements in surface lattice oxygen mobility and low-temperature reducibility,while Co_(1) preferred to generate higher contents of the high-valence states of chromium and surface oxygen species as well as adsorption and activation of n-hexane.n-Hexane combustion takes place via the Mars van Krevelen(MvK)mechanism,and its reaction pathways are as follows:n-hexane→olefins or 3-hexyl hydroperoxide→3-hexanone,2-hexanone or 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran→2-methyloxirane or 2-ethyl-oxetane→acrylic acid→CO_x→CO_(2)and H_(2)O.

Facile synthesis of efficient pentaethylenehexamine-phosphotungstic acid heterogeneous catalysts for oxidative desulfurization

The ultra-deep desulfurization of oil needs to be solved urgently due to various problems,including environmental pollution and environmental protection requirements.Oxidative desulfurization(ODS)was considered to be the most promising technology.The facile synthesis of highly efficient and stable HPW-based heterogeneous catalysts for oxidative desulfurization is still a challenging task.In this paper,pentamethylene hexamine(PEHA)and phosphotungstic acid(HPW)were combined by a simple one-step method to prepare a heterogeneous catalyst of PEHA-HPW for the production of ultra-deep desulfurization fuel oil.The composite material exhibited excellent catalytic activity and high recyclability,which could reach a 100% dibenzothiophene(DBT)removal rate in 30 min and be recycled at least 5 times.Experiments and DFT simulations were used to better examine the ODS mechanism of PEHA-HPW.It was proved that the rich amino groups on the surface of PEHA-HPW play a crucial role.This work provides a simple and feasible way for the manufacture of efficient HPW-based catalysts.

Efficient degradation of dye pollutants in wastewater via photocatalysis using a magnetic zinc oxide/graphene/iron oxide-based catalyst

In this paper, we present a proof-of-concept study of the enhancement of photocatalytic activity via a combined strategy of fabricating a visible-light responsive ternary heterostructure and improving overall photostability by incorporating magnetic zinc oxide/graphene/iron oxide (ZGF). A solvothermal approach was used to synthesize the catalyst. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopic, energy dispersive X-ray, transmission electron microscopic, vibrating sample magnetometric, and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize the synthesized samples. The obtained optimal Zn(NO_(3))_(2) concentration, temperature, and heating duration were 0.10 mol/L, 600℃, and 1 h, respectively. The XRD pattern revealed the presence of peaks corresponding to zinc oxide, graphene, and iron oxide, indicating that the ZGF catalyst was effectively synthesized. Furthermore, when the developed ZGF was used for methylene blue dye degradation, the optimum irradiation time, dye concentration, catalyst dosage, irradiation intensity, and solution pH were 90 min, 10 mg/L, 0.03 g/L, 100 W, and 8.0, respectively. Therefore, the synthesized ZGF system could be used as a catalyst to degrade dyes in wastewater samples. This hybrid nanocomposite consisting of zinc oxide, graphene, and iron oxide could also be used as an effective photocatalytic degrader for various dye pollutants.

Dielectric barrier discharge plasma synthesis of Ag/γ-Al_(2)O_(3) catalysts for catalytic oxidation of CO

In this study,Ag/γ-Al_(2)O_(3)catalysts were synthesized by an Ar dielectric barrier discharge plasma using silver nitrate as the Ag source andγ-alumina(γ-Al_(2)O_(3))as the support.It is revealed that plasma can reduce silver ions to generate crystalline silver nanoparticles(Ag NPs)of good dispersion and uniformity on the alumina surface,leading to the formation of Ag/γ-Al_(2)O_(3)catalysts in a green manner without traditional chemical reductants.Ag/γ-Al_(2)O_(3)exhibited good catalytic activity and stability in CO oxidation reactions,and the activity increased with increase in the Ag content.For catalysts with more than 2 wt%Ag,100%CO conversion can be achieved at 300°C.The catalytic activity of the Ag/γ-Al_(2)O_(3)catalysts is also closely related to the size of theγ-alumina,where Ag/nano-γ-Al_(2)O_(3)catalysts demonstrate better performance than Ag/micro-γ-Al_(2)O_(3)catalysts with the same Ag content.In addition,the catalytic properties of plasma-generated Ag/nano-γ-Al_(2)O_(3)(Ag/γ-Al_(2)O_(3)-P)catalysts were compared with those of Ag/nano-γ-Al_(2)O_(3)catalysts prepared by the traditional calcination approach(Ag/γ-Al_(2)O_(3)-C),with the plasma-generated samples demonstrating better overall performance.This simple,rapid and green plasma process is considered to be applicable for the synthesis of diverse noble metal-based catalysts.

A comparative study of formaldehyde and carbon monoxide complete oxidation on MnO_x-CeO_2 catalysts

MnOx-CeO2 composite catalysts were prepared by a coprecipitation method and tested for formaldehyde （HCHO） and carbon monoxide （CO） oxidation. X-ray photon spectroscopy （XPS） results indicated that the average oxidation state of surface Mn species in CeMn composite catalyst was higher compared to the pure MnOx. The enhancement of reactivity for HCHO oxidation was due to the activation of the lattice oxygen species in MnOx by the addition of CeO2, which was confirmed by the H2 temperature programmed reduction （HE-TPR） results. The remarkable enhancement of reactivity for CO oxidation by the addition of CeO2 was due to the active oxygen species generated on the CeO2 surface which directly participated in the reaction.

Screening of MgO- and CeO_2-Based Catalysts for Carbon Dioxide Oxidative Coupling of Methane to C_(2+) Hydrocarbons

The catalyst screening tests for carbon dioxide oxidative coupling of methane (CO2-OCM) have been investigated over ternary and binary metal oxide catalysts. The catalysts are prepared by doping MgO- and CeO2-based solids with oxides from alkali (Li2O), alkaline earth (CaO), and transition metal groups (WO3 or MnO). The presence of the peroxide (O2-2) active sites on the Li2O2, revealed by Raman spectroscopy, may be the key factor in the enhanced performance of some of the Li2O/MgO catalysts. The high reducibility of the CeO2 catalyst, an important factor in the CO2-OCM catalyst activity, may be enhanced by the presence of manganese oxide species. The manganese oxide species increases oxygen mobility and oxygen vacancies in the CeO2 catalyst. Raman and Fourier Transform Infra Red (FT-IR) spectroscopies revealed the presence of lattice vibrations of metal-oxygen bondings and active sites in which the peaks corresponding to the bulk crystalline structures of Li2O, CaO, WO3 and MnO are detected. The performance of 5%MnO/15%CaO/CeO2 catalyst is the most potential among the CeO2-based catalysts, although lower than the 2%Li2O/MgO catalyst. The 2%Li2O/MgO catalyst showed the most promising C2+ hydrocarbons selectivity and yield at 98.0% and 5.7%, respectively.

Selective Oxidation of CO in Excess H_2 over Ru/Al_2O_3 Catalysts Modified with Metal Oxide

The Ru/Al2O3 catalysts modified with metal oxide （K20 and La2O3） were prepared v/a incipient wetness impregnation method from RuCl3.nH2O mixed with nitrate loading on Al2O3 support. The activity of catalysts was evaluated under simulative conditions for the preferential oxidation of CO （CO-PROX） from the hydrogen-rich gas streams produced by reforming gas, and the performances of catalysts were investigated by XRD and TPR. The results showed that the activity temperature of the modified catalysts Ru-K20/Al2O3 and Ru-La2O3/Al2O3 were lowered approximately 30℃ compared with pure Ru/Al2O3, and the activity temperature range was widened. The conversion of CO on Ru-K20/Al2O3 and Ru-La2O3/Al2O3 was above 99% at 140-160℃, suitable to remove CO in a hydrogen-rich gas and the selectivity of Ru-La2O3/Al2O3 was higher than that of Ru-K2O/Al2O3in the active temperature range. Slight methanation reaction was detected at 220℃ and above.

Insights into support effects on Ce-Zr-O mixed oxide-supported gold catalysts in CO oxidation

Au]Cel_xZrxO2 catalysts （x = 0-0.8） were prepared by a deposition-precipitation method using Cel_xZrxO2 nanoparticles as supports with variable Ce and Zr contents. Their structures were characterized by complimentary means such as X-ray diffraction, Raman, scanning trans- mission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）. These Au catalysts possessed similar sizes and crystalline phases of Cel_xZrzO2 supports as well as similar sizes and oxidation states of Au nanoparticles. The oxidation state of Au nanoparticles was dominated by Au~ especially in CO oxidation. Their activities were examined in CO oxidation at different temperatures in the range of 303-333 K. The CO oxidation rates normalized per Au atoms increased with the increasing Ce contents, and reached the maximum value over Au/CeO2. Such change was in parallel with the change in the oxygen storage capacity values, i.e. the amounts of active oxygen species on Au/Cel_zZrzO2 catalysts. The excellent correlation between the two properties of the catalysts suggests that the intrinsic support effects on the CO oxidation rates is related to the effects on the adsorption and activation of O2 on Au/Cel_xZrxO2 catalysts. Such understanding on the support effects may be useful for designing more active Au catalysts, for example, by tuning the redox properties of oxide supports.

Selective oxidation of propane to acrylic acid over mixed metal oxide catalysts

The effects of metal atomic ratio, water content, oxygen content, and calcination temperature on the catalytic performances of MoVTeNbO mixed oxide catalyst system for the selective oxidation of propane to acrylic acid have been investigated and discussed. Among the catalysts studied, it was found that the MoVTeNbO catalyst calcined at a temperature of 600 ℃ showed the best performance in terms of propane conversion and selectivity for acrylic acid under an atmosphere of nitrogen. An effective MoVTeNbO oxide catalyst for propane selective oxidation to acrylic acid was obtained with a combination of a preferred metal atomic ratio （Mo1V0.31Te0.23Nb0.12）. The optimum reaction condition for the selective oxidation of propane was the molar ratio of C3H8 ：O2 ： H2O ： N2 = 4.4： 12.8 ： 15.3 ： 36.9. Under such conditions, the conversion of propane and the maximum yield of acrylic acid reached about 50% and 21%, respectively.

Nickel catalysts supported on MgO with different specific surface area for carbon dioxide reforming of methane

In this paper, three kinds of MgO with different specific surface area were prepared, and their effects on the catalytic performance of nickel catalysts for the carbon dioxide reforming of methane were investigated. The results showed that MgO support with the higher specific surface area led to the higher dispersion of the active metal, which resulted in the higher initial activity. On the other hand, the specific surface area of MgO materials might not be the dominant factor for the basicity of support to chemisorb and activate CO2, which was another important factor for the performance of catalysts. Herein, Ni/MgO(CA) catalyst with proper specific surface area and strong ability to activate CO2exhibited stable catalytic property and the carbon species deposited on the Ni/MgO(CA) catalyst after 10 h of reaction at 650 ?C were mainly activated carbon species.