Barium promoted Ni/Sm2O3 catalysts for enhanced CO2 methanation

Mullite-like SmMn2O5-Derived Composite Oxide-Supported Ni-Based Catalysts for Hydrogen Production by Auto-Thermal Reforming of Acetic Acid

The x%Ni/Sm2O3-MnO (x = 0, 10, 15, 20) catalysts derived from SmMn2O5 mullite were prepared by solution combustion and impregnation method; auto-thermal reforming (ATR) of acetic acid (HAc) for hydrogen production was used to explore the metal-support effect induced by Ni loadings on the catalytic reforming activity and product distribution. The 15%Ni/Sm2O3-MnO catalyst exhibited optimal catalytic performance, which can be due to the appropriate Ni loading inducing a strong metal-support interaction to form a stable Ni/Sm2O3-MnO active center, while side reactions, such as methanation and ketonization, were well suppressed. According to characterizations, Sm2O3-MnO mixed oxides derived from SmMn2O5 mullite were formed with oxygen vacancies; nevertheless, loading of Ni metal further promoted the formation of oxygen vacancies, thus enhancing adsorption and activation of oxygen-containing intermediate species and resulting in higher reactivity with HAc conversion near 100% and hydrogen yield at 2.62 mol-H2/mol-HAc.

Carbon Dioxide Valorization into Methane Using Samarium Oxide-Supported Monometallic and Bimetallic Catalysts

Samarium oxide (Sm2O3) is a versatile surface for CO2 and H2 interaction and conversion. Samarium oxide-supported Ni, samarium oxide-supported Co-Ni, and samarium oxide-supported Ru-Ni catalysts were tested for CO2 methanation and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen physisorption, infrared spectroscopy, H2-temperature programmed reduction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Limited H2 dissociation and widely available surface carbonate and formate species over 20 wt.% Ni, dispersed over Sm2O3, resulted in ~98% CH4 selectivity. The low selectivity for CO could be due to the reforming reaction between CH4 (methanation product) and CO2. Co-impregnation of cobalt with nickel over Sm2O3 had high surface adsorbed oxygen and higher CO selectivity. On the other hand, co-impregnation of ruthenium and nickel over Sm2O3 led to more than one catalytic active site, carbonate species, lack of formate species, and 94% CH4 selectivity. It indicated the following route of CH4 synthesis over Ru-Ni/Sm2O3; carbonate → unstable formate → CO → CH4.

CO and CO2 Methanation over CeO2-Supported Cobalt Catalysts

CO2 methanation is a promising reaction for utilizing CO2 using hydrogen generated by renewable energy. In this study, CO and CO2 methanation were examined over ceria-supported cobalt catalysts with low cobalt contents. The catalysts were prepared using a wet impregnation and co-precipitation method and pretreated at different temperatures. These preparation variables affected the catalytic performance as well as the physicochemical properties. These properties were characterized using various techniques including N2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction, H2 chemisorption, temperature-programmed reduction with H2, and temperature-programmed desorption after CO2 chemisorption. Among the prepared catalysts, the ceria-supported cobalt catalyst that was prepared using a wet impregnation method calcined in air at 500 °C, and reduced in H2 at 500 °C, showed the best catalytic performance. It is closely related to the large catalytically active surface area, large surface area, and large number of basic sites. The in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) study revealed the presence of carbonate, bicarbonate, formate, and CO on metallic cobalt.