Deactivation of Ni/γ-Al2O3 Catalysts in CO Methanation: Effect of Zr, Mg, Ba and Ca Oxide Promoters

Catalyst deactivation is one of the major concerns in the production of substitute natural gas (SNG) via CO methanation. Catalysts in this application need to be active at low temperatures, resistant to polymeric carbon formation and stable at high temperatures and steam partial pressures. In the present work, a series of alumina-supported nickel catalysts promoted with Zr, Mg, Ba or Ca oxides were investigated. The catalysts were tested under low temperature CO methanation conditions in order to evaluate their resistance to carbon formation. The catalysts were also exposed to accelerated ageing conditions at high temperatures in order to study their thermal stability. The aged catalysts lost most of their activity mainly due to sintering of the support and the nickel crystallites. Apparently, none of these promoters had a satisfactory effect on the thermal resistance of the catalyst. Nevertheless, it was found that the presence of Zr can reduce the rate of polymeric carbon formation.