Catalyst composition, modeled on commercial naphtha reforming catalysts, contained 2.4 wt% Mg, 6.0 wt% Ni and 3.9 wt% K. An aqueous mixture of nickel (Ni), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) nitrate salts (99% Ni (NO3)2ท6H2O, Mg (NO3)2ท6H2O (Alfa Aesar), and 99% KNO3 (Aldrich) was added to the support particles via incipient wetness