Catalytic steam reforming and catalysts therefor

A process for the preparation of a low temperature steam reforming catalyst, said catalyst comprising nickel in an amount of from 25 to 75% nickel, ruthenium in an amount less than 0.8% and alumina, said percentages being calculated as weight percentages of the total calcined but unreduced catalsyt, wherein said process comprises coprecipitation of the nickel and aluminum components from aqueous solutions of nickel and aluminum salts followed by washing, drying, calcination and reduction of the precipitate to reduce the nickel component to metallic nickel, and wherein said ruthenium component is incorporated into the catalyst prior to the reduction step by a step selected from the group consisting of (a) impregnation of the washed, dried and calcined nickel-aluminum containing precipitate, from an aqueous solution of a ruthenium containing salt, or (b) physical blending of a solid ruthenium compound with the washed, dried and calcined nickel-aluminum containing precipitate.