Understanding structure-activity relationships in highly active La promoted Ni catalysts for CO2 methanation

DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2020.119256

Authors: Phuoc Hoang Ho (Università di Bologna) , Giancosimo Sanghez De Luna (Università di Bologna) , Saverio Angelucci (Università di Bologna; Research Complex at Harwell) , Andrea Canciani (Università di Bologna; Research Complex at Harwell) , Wilm Jones (Research Complex at Harwell; University College London) , Donato Decarolis (Research Complex at Harwell) , Francesca Ospitali (Università di Bologna) , Elena Rodriguez Aguado (Universidad de Málaga) , Enrique Rodríguez-Castellón (Universidad de Málaga) , Giuseppe Fornasari (Università di Bologna) , Angelo Vaccari (Università di Bologna) , Andrew M. Beale (Research Complex at Harwell; University College London) , Patricia Benito (Università di Bologna)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Applied Catalysis B: Environmental

State: Published (Approved)
Published: June 2020

Abstract: Ni-based catalysts are selective in the hydrogenation of CO2 to CH4 but their activity and stability need improvement. Herein, we propose a hydrotalcite-derived high loaded Ni-Al2O3 catalyst promoted by La. The effect of La on the catalyst properties is investigated and compared with that of Y and Ce. The NiOx crystallite size and basic properties (rather than the nickel reducibility) as well as the catalytic activity depend on the rare-earth element. The La-catalyst achieves a more relevant activity enhancement at low temperature and high space velocity (480 L g-1 h-1, CO2/H2/N2 = 1/4/1 v/v), high CH4 productivity (101 LCH4 gNi-1 h-1) and stability, even under undiluted feeds. In situ DRIFTS and the characterization of spent catalysts confirm that this enhanced performance is related to the combination of dissociative and associative CO2 activation on more reduced, highly dispersed and stable Ni nanoparticles and basic sites in the La2O3-Al2O3 matrix, respectively.

Journal Keywords: Nickel; Lanthanum; hydrotalcite; CO2 methanation

Subject Areas: Chemistry


Instruments: B18-Core EXAFS

Added On: 23/06/2020 15:40

Discipline Tags:

Energy Storage Earth Sciences & Environment Sustainable Energy Systems Energy Climate Change Physical Chemistry Catalysis Chemistry Chemical Engineering Engineering & Technology

Technical Tags:

Spectroscopy X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS)