Tuning basicity of dual function materials widens operation temperature window for efficient CO2 adsorption and hydrogenation to CH4

Mitigation of CO2 emissions by integrated CO2 capture and utilization (ICCU) is challenging. This work focuses on widening operation temperature window of the hydrogenation of adsorbed CO2 to CH4. For this, a set of dual function materials (DFMs) 4%Ru-x%Na2CO3-y%CaO/gamma-Al2O3 are prepared. DFMs are deeply characterized by N-2 adsorption-desorption, XRD, H-2 chemisorption, TEM, H2-TPR and CO2-TPD. The catalytic behavior, in cycles of CO2 adsorption and hydrogenation to CH4, is evaluated and the temporal evolution of the concentration of re-actants and products is analyzed. The presence of both adsorbents in the DFMs improves ruthenium dispersion and the basicity is modulated with the Na2CO3/CaO ratio. Ru-8Na/8Ca improves methane production over the whole temperature window compared to DFMs based only on a unique adsorbent. The best results are assigned to the promotion of contact between the carbonates of medium strength with the metallic sites, which boost the CO2 adsorption and hydrogenation to CH4. The financial support from the Science and Innovation Spanish Ministry (PID2019–105960RB-C21) and the Basque Government (IT1297–19) is acknowledged. The authors thank for technical and human support provided by SGIker (UPV/EHU Advanced Research Facilities/ ERDF, EU).