Highly active and selective catalyst for synthetic natural gas (SNG) production

Abstract

A novel nickel-based methanation catalyst has been prepared and tested for CO and CO 2 hydrogenation to synthetic natural gas under various conditions. The catalysts before and after reaction have been characterized using XRD, Laser Raman and IR spectroscopes. It is showed that the novel catalyst can give high methane selectivity and yield at a very broad ranges of temperature and H 2 /CO ratios, although the selectivity to methane increase with the H 2 /CO ratio, which, however, increases with the temperature rising from 200 to 350°C, then gradually decrease. The characterization results showed that the there is surface carbons forming over the catalyst surface, and the nickel crystalline structure changes during the reaction. Despite this, the catalyst still gives the same performance, which suggested that the catalyst can operate in a very broad range conditions.

Effect of reaction variables on CO methanation process over NiO–La2O3–MgO/Al2O3 catalyst for coal to synthetic natural gas

“…Ni-based catalyst is often the most practical choice for methanation because of its relatively high activity and low price. NiO/Al 2 O 3 catalysts have been intensively explored for the methanation of carbon monoxide [5].…”