Highly efficient nickel-niobia composite catalysts for hydrogenation of CO2 to methane

• Published in: Chemical engineering science 2019-02, Vol.194, p.2-9
• Main Authors: Gnanakumar, Edwin S., Chandran, Narendraraj, Kozhevnikov, Ivan V., Grau-Atienza, Aida, Ramos Fernández, Enrique V., Sepulveda-Escribano, Antonio, Shiju, N. Raveendran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CO2 utilisation; Heterogeneous catalysis; Methanation; Methane; Nickel; Niobia
• ISSN: 0009-2509; 1873-4405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2018.08.038

[Display omitted] •Heterogeneous catalysts based on nickel supported on niobia are synthesised.•The catalysts are tested in CO2 hydrogenation to methane in a packed bed reactor.•The catalysts are active and highly selective in CO2 methanation.•A continuous test of 50 h confirmed the stability of the catalysts.•The catalytic performance depends on the treatment temperature and niobia loading. We studied the catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 to methane using nickel-niobia composite catalysts. Catalysts containing 10–70 wt% Ni were synthesized by wet impregnation and tested for CO2 hydrogenation in a flow reactor. 40 wt% was found to be the optimum Ni loading, which resulted in CO2 conversion of 81% at 325 °C. We also calcined the Nb2O5 support at different temperatures to study the influence of calcination temperature on the catalytic performance. 40 wt% Ni loaded on Nb2O5, which was calcined at 700 °C gave higher methanation activity (91% conversion of CO2). Time on stream study for 50 h showed a stable activity and selectivity; thus confirming the scope for practical application.