Catalyst for improving the adiabatic steam reforming of natural gas

A process for adiabatically prereforming a feedstock comprising natural gas and steam, said process comprising:

• providing an adiabatic reactor;
• providing a catalyst comprising 1 to 20 wt. % nickel and 0.4 to 5 wt. % potassium, on a calcium aluminate support wherein an overall catalyst porosity is greater than 40% with greater than 70% of the overall catalyst porosity contributed by pores having pore diameters of at least 500 Å, a median pore diameter is greater than 2600 Å, and a nitrogen BET area is less than 6.5 m2/g;
• providing the feedstock comprising natural gas and steam, wherein the natural gas contains an initial concentration of higher hydrocarbons, and a ratio of steam to natural gas in the feedstock is from 1.5:1 to 5:1;
• preheating the feedstock to a temperature of 300 to 700° C. to provide a heated feedstock;
• providing the heated feedstock to the adiabatic reactor;
• and
• producing a product comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, unreacted methane, and steam, wherein said product contains a reduced concentration of higher hydrocarbons less than the initial concentration of higher hydrocarbons.