Looking for an Optimal Composition of Nickel-Based Catalysts for CO2 Methanation

A detailed critical analysis of the scientific literature data concerning catalysts for CO2 methanation based on nickel supported over oxides was performed. According to the obtained information, it seems that an ionic support is necessary to allow a good nickel dispersion to produce very small nickel metal particles. Such small metal particles result in being very active toward methanation, limiting the production of carbonaceous materials. The use of support and/or surface additives gives rise to medium surface basicity, allowing medium-strong adsorption of CO2, and it is also advisable to increase the reaction rate. A medium nickel loading would allow the free support geometric surface to be covered densely by small nickel metal particles without the production of larger Ni crystals. It is also advisable to work at temperatures where Ni(CO)4 formation is not possible (e.g., >573 K). The promising properties of systems based on doped Ni/Al2O3, doped with basic and re-active oxides such as MnOx or/and CeO2, and those based on Ni/CeO2 were underlined.