Highly Nickel‐Loaded γ‐Alumina Composites for a Radiofrequency‐Heated, Low‐Temperature CO<sub>2</sub> Methanation Scheme
Wei Wang, Cuong Duong‐Viet, Giulia Tuci, Yuefeng Liu, Andrea Rossin, Lapo Luconi, Jean‐Mario Nhut, Lam Nguyen‐Dinh, Giuliano Giambastiani, Cuong Pham‐Huu
Abstract
Abstract In this work, we joined highly Ni‐loaded γ‐Al 2 O 3 composites, straightforwardly prepared by impregnation methods, with an induction heating setup suited to control, almost in real‐time, any temperature swing at the catalyst sites (i. e., “hot spots” ignition) caused by an exothermic reaction at the heart of the power‐to‐gas (P2G) chain: CO 2 methanation. We have shown how the combination of a poor thermal conductor (γ‐Al 2 O 3 ) as support for large and highly interconnected nickel aggregates together with a fast heat control of the temperature at the catalytic bed allow part of the extra‐heat generated by the reaction exothermicity to be reused for maintaining the catalyst under virtual isothermal conditions, hence reducing the reactor power supply. Most importantly, a highly efficient methanation scheme for substitute natural gas (SNG) production ( X up 98 % with >99 % S ) under operative temperatures (150–230 °C) much lower than those commonly required with traditional heating setup has been proposed. As far as sustainable and environmental issues are concerned, this approach re‐evaluates industrially attractive composites (and their large‐scale preparation methods) for application to key processes at the heart of P2G chain while providing robust catalysts for which risks associated to nano‐objects leaching phenomena are markedly reduced if not definitively suppressed.