*3.1. Catalyst Preparation*

20% Ni–5% Cu/Al2O3, 20% Ni–5% Fe/Al2O3 and 20% Ni-0.5% Pt/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by excess wetness impregnation using Ni(NO3)2·6H2O (Alfa Aesar, Haverhill, MA, USA), Cu(NO3)2·3H2O (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA), Fe(NO3)3·9H2O (Alfa Aesar, Haverhill, MA, USA) and/or Pt(NH3)4(NO3)2 (Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) as the metal precursors and γ-Al2O3 (Sasol, Johannesburg, South Africa; surface area of 216 m<sup>2</sup>/g) as the support. Following impregnation, the materials were dried overnight at 60 ◦C under vacuum and then calcined at 500 ◦C for 3 h in static air. The catalysts and SiC diluent (Kramer Industries, Piscataway Township, NJ, USA) were sieved separately to the desired particle size (150–300 μm), and stored in a vacuum oven at 60 ◦C prior to their use.
