Process for steam reforming of hydrocarbons

A process for the steam reforming of normally liquid hydrocarbons to produce hydrogen and the oxides of carbon which comprises the steps of:

• A. passing said normally liquid hydrocarbons and steam at a ratio of about 1.5 to about 5 mols of steam per atom of carbon in said normally liquid hydrocarbons and at a pressure in the range of from about 1 to 50 atmospheres and at a temperature in the range of from 800 to 1800 degrees F. over a catalyst comprising catalytically active constituents for said reaction impregnated onto a low surface area refractory support
• B. the improvement in which said catalytically active constituents comprise nickel, expressed as the metal, in a weight concentration of from about five to thirty percent and promotional amounts of the oxides of manganese and iron, in which the ratio of manganese to iron, expressed as the metal, does not exceed 2:1 and in which:
• 1. said catalytically active constituents are not chemically bound to said refractory support, having been impregnated onto said low surface area refractory support from a solution of their heat decomposable water soluble salts, followed by calcination at a temperature of at least 700.degree. F. but not in excess of 1200.degree. F. for sufficient time to convert each of said salts to the oxide.