CO2 Methanation of Biogas over Ni-Mg-Al: The Effects of Ni Content, Reduction Temperature, and Biogas Composition

Abstract

Biogas is mainly composed of CH4 and CO2, so it is used as an alternative energy to CH4 with high energy density by separating and removing CO2 from biogas. In addition, it can be utilized by producing synthesis gas (CO and H2) through thermal decomposition of biogas or by synthesizing CH4 by methanation of CO2. The technique of CO2 methanation is a method that can improve the CH4 concentration without CO2 separation. This study aims to produce more efficient methane through CO2 methanation of biogas over Ni-Mg-Al catalyst. So, the effect of Ni contents in catalyst, catalyst reduction temperature, CO2 concentration in biogas, and the initial concentration of CH4 on CO2 conversion rate and CH4 selectivity was investigated. In addition, the effect of increasing CO2 concentration, H2/CO2 ratio, and GHSV (gas space velocity per hour) on H2 conversion, CH4 productivity, and product was investigated. In particular, the durability and stability of CO2 methanation was tested over 60 wt% Ni-Mg-Al catalyst at 350 °C and 30,000/h for 130 h. From the long-term test results, the catalyst shows stability by maintaining a constant CO2 conversion rate of 72% and a CH4 selectivity of 95%.