Abstract: A process is provided for the steam reforming of normally liquid hydrocarbons to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which does not promote the deposition of carbonacious materials upon catalytic surfaces. The catalyst consists of nickel promoted with the oxides of iron and manganese within a specific manganese to iron ratio, said metal and metal oxides being supported upon a refractory support. The support is preferably aluminum oxide in its alpha phase having a surface area of more than 0.5 m.sup.2 /gm but no more than 10 m.sup.2 /gm. The metallic constituents are impregnated onto said refractory low surface area support as salts and are calcined at sufficiently high temperature to convert the salts to the oxide but at a sufficiently low temperature that they do not chemically react with the support.

Abstract: A catalyst is provided for the steam reforming of normally liquid hydrocarbons to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which does not promote the deposition of carbonaceous materials upon the catalytic surfaces. The catalyst consists of nickel promoted with the oxides of iron and manganese within a specific manganese to iron ratio, said metal and metal oxides being supported upon a refractory support. The support is preferably aluminum oxide in its alpha phase having a surface area of less than 15 m.sup.2 /gm. The metallic constituents are impregnated onto said refractory low surface area support as salts and are calcined at sufficiently high temperature to convert the salts to the oxide but at a sufficiently low temperature that they do not chemically react with the support.

Abstract: A carbon and erosion resistant catalyst is provided for simultaneously converting hydrocarbons with steam and carbon dioxide to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide while simultaneously reducing carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide in order to produce a reducing atmosphere. The catalyst consists of a cobalt component on an aluminous support, the aluminous support being aluminum oxide in the alpha phase and having a surface area of greater than .5 m.sup.2 /gm. but not greater than 14 m.sup.2 /gm. This catalyst is sufficiently active to convert the hydrocarbons to hydrogen and carbon monoxide at a relatively low initial temperature and within a relatively large temperature range and simultaneously reduce carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide in the carbon forming range without appreciable deposition of carbon on the catalyst or without catalyst erosion.