Enhancement of the CO2 adsorption and hydrogenation to CH4 capacity of Ru-Na-Ca/γ-Al2O3 dual function material by controlling the Ru calcination atmosphere

Abstract

Integrated CO₂ capture and utilization (ICCU) technology requires dual functional materials (DFMs) to carry out the process in a single reaction system. The influence of the calcination atmosphere on efficiency of 4% Ru-8% Na₂CO₃-8% CaO/γ-Al₂O₃ DFM is studied. The adsorbent precursors are first co-impregnated onto alumina and calcined in air. Then, Ru precursor is impregnated and four aliquotes are subjected to different calcination protocols: static air in muffle or under different mixtures (10% H₂/N₂, 50% H₂/N₂ and N₂) streams. Samples are characterized by XRD, N₂ adsorption-desorption, H₂ chemisorption, TEM, XPS, H₂-TPD, H₂-TPR, CO₂-TPD and TPSR. The catalytic behavior is evaluated, in cycles of CO₂ adsorption and hydrogenation to CH₄, and temporal evolution of reactants and products concentrations is analyzed. The calcination atmosphere influences the physicochemical properties and, ultimately, activity of DFMs. Characterization data and catalytic performance discover the acccomodation of Ru nanoparticles disposition and basic sites is mostly influencing the catalytic activity. DFM calcined under N₂ flow (RuNaCa-N₂) shows the highest CH₄ production (449 µmol/g at 370°C), because a well-controlled decomposition of precursors which favors the better accomodation of adsorbent and Ru phases, maximizing the specific surface area, the Ru-basic sites interface and the participation of different basic sites in the CO₂ methanation reaction. Thus, the calcination in a N₂ flow is revealed as the optimal calcination protocol to achieve highly efficient DFM for integrated CO₂ adsorption and hydrogenation applications.

Keywords: CO(2) methanation; Dual functional material (DFM); Integrated CO(2) capture and utilization (ICCU); Ru calcination atmosphere.