Parametric, cyclic aging and characterization studies for CO2 capture from flue gas and catalytic conversion to synthetic natural gas using a dual functional material (DFM)

Solid sorbents have attracted extensive research attention for enhanced adsorption of effluent CO2. A Dual Functional Material (DFM), composed of a CO2 adsorbent (Na2O derived from hydrogenated Na2CO3) in combination with Ru both supported on the same Al2O3, overcome limitations of traditional sorbent technology. It captures CO2 from a simulated flue gas and catalytically converts it to synthetic natural gas (CH4) in the same reactor and temperature utilizing H-2 generated from renewable sources. The methane produced is recycled to the plant inlet for repeated combustion maintaining a closed carbon loop. The process is envisioned to operate with parallel reactors, containing DFM, where one captures CO2 and the other methanates and vis versa for continuous operation. We report parametric, cyclic aging and characterization studies in a simulated natural gas power plant flue gas using 10 g of 5 mm x 5 mm tablet DFM. This material shows stable CO2 capture and conversion to CH4 performance for over 50 adsorption and conversion aging cycles (equivalent to 80 h of operation) with no loss in BET surface area, CO2 capture capacity nor Ru dispersion.