Steam reforming catalyst and method of making thereof

A method for the production of a supported nickel catalyst precursor with a sodium-β alumina phase and/or potassium-β alumina phase, said method comprising the steps of:

• i. providing a mixture comprising:
• i. a magnesium mineral or magnesium salt,
• ii. optionally, a calcium mineral or calcium salt,
• iii. an aluminium mineral or aluminium salt,
• iv. an alkali metal salt comprising at least one of Na and K, and
• v. optionally water;
• ii. extruding said mixture to form an extrudate, said extrudate containing integrated reservoirs of said alkali metal salt, and calcining the extrudate at a temperature from 300-600° C.;
• iii. sintering said calcined extrudate at a temperature in a range of 1100-14000° C. to form a support material;
• iv. impregnating said support material with an aqueous solution comprising a nickel salt to provide the supported nickel catalyst precursor;
• and
• v. optionally repeating step iv.