Nickel catalysts supported over an amorphous carbon were obtained by a one-step synthesis method based on the mineralization of cellulosic paper impregnated with a salt of nickel. The effect of the mineralization temperature on material characteristics was studied. The characterization of samples revealed the formation of nickel nanoparticles well dispersed on the carbonaceous matrix with an average diameter near to 5 nm. The samples showed high surface areas and they retained the original fibrous paper morphology.

Methanol steam reforming reaction was studied over Cu(5 wt.%)/CeO2 with and without the presence of Zn. The Zn addition decreased the Cu+2 reducibility and increased the oxygen mobility of ceria. The main products were CO2 and H2 with small amount of CO. Selectivity to CO decreased with the Zn addition and it was lower at lower reaction temperatures and lower space velocities. At 230 ºC and W/F MeOH = 648 g min mol-1 selectivities to H2 and to CO2 were 100% on Zn/Cu/Ce. The catalytic results indicated that CO was mainly a secondary product formed from reverse water gas shift reaction.