carrier may be from a single solution of the acetates and nitrates of nickel manganese iron and barium alternately the manganese constituent may be first impregnated onto the carrier and calcined followed by impregnation from a solution containing the salts of nickel and iron alternately the iron salt may be first impregnated onto the carrier followed by calcination and a subsequent impregnation from a solution containing the salts of nickel and manganese alternately the barium salt may be added by a subsequent impregnation step however in no case should the manganese salt be added on top of the nickel and iron constituents nor should the iron constituents be added on top of the manganese or nickel constituents the process conditions employed in the steam reforming of hydrocarbons is dependent upon the intended use of the end products the catalyst of this invention will operate however at low to high steam to carbon molar ratios of 1 5 upward at low to high pressures of from 0 to 50 atmospheres and at temperatures in the range of from 800 degrees f to 1800 degrees f catalyst a was prepared by immersing the high temperature treated alumina rings prepared in a solution of potassium nitrate to obtain a potassium concentration of 0 3 percent potassium these rings were calcined three hours at 1000 u00b0 f the rings were allowed to cool and then they were dipped in a solution of nickel nitrate the impregnated catalysts were then calcined for three hours at 1000 u00b0 f the rings.