Highly dispersed Ni-Ce catalyst over clay montmorillonite K10 in low-temperature CO2 methanation

The Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) option can be an efficient solution for CO 2 emission mitigation. To this end, we have investigated the carbon dioxide methanation at low temperatures. Highly active, selective, stable, low-cost catalysts are required for energy and carbon balance benefits. Supported nickel-based catalysts result as the most studied and promising candidates showing a good compromise between performance and low preparation costs. The catalyst design role is key to obtaining the best performance, requiring many experiments and optimisation procedures. Herein, the enhanced Montmorillonite MK10-supported Ni(0)Ce(III) catalyst, prepared by consecutive hydrothermal and electrostatic adsorption methods followed by reduction under hydrogen flow, was used in batch CO 2 methanation, exhibiting 76 % of CO 2 conversion with 100 % CH 4 selectivity after 3 h. The catalytic system reveals very high robustness preserving the same activity and selectivity for at least 5 reaction cycles if compared with γ-Al 2 O 3 -supported Ni(0)Ce(III) catalyst, the latter showing the same activity but only in the first cycle. EDX, XPS, SEM, TPD, TPR, and BET characterisation techniques were used to elucidate and evaluate the potential synergistic effect of the active metal centre-promoter-support interfaces, highlighting their role in the activity and robustness of the catalyst, comparing the same effect using different alumina and silicate solid supports. The effects of the reaction conditions on the methane yield and selectivity were also evaluated. • Ni(0)/Ce 2 O 3 /MK10 catalyst was prepared and successfully used in the methanation of CO 2 obtaining 76 % of CO 2 conversion. • The methanation reactions were performed in the batch reactor, analysing different reaction conditions. • Different analytical techniques have been used to investigate and compare the catalyst's properties.