The enhancement of sodium zirconate's performance during CO oxidation and/or CO2 chemisorption by adding lithium or nickel carbonates

Sodium zirconate was synthesized using the traditional solid-state reaction method. To determine and analyze the effect of adding carbonate salts, the pristine material was mechanically modified with 10 ​wt% of lithium or nickel carbonates. Pure and modified zirconates were subjected to XRD, FT-IR, and N 2 physisorption characterization techniques to determine, as expected, that the mechanical additions had not altered the material structure or morphology. Still, through TG experiments under different flow rates in the presence and absence of O 2 , the capacity to oxidize CO and absorb CO 2 was measured, as well as how these capacities changed depending on the type of carbonate added and the CO x gas mixture used. The best material obtained was the nickel-modified sodium zirconate under a combined CO 2 –CO–O 2 gas stream. This sample exhibited greater capture and better efficiency, as well as a good capacity to oxidize carbon monoxide and simultaneously capture carbon dioxide, achieving a capture rate greater than that reported jointly in the CO–O 2 and CO 2 –O 2 atmospheres. Finally, this work demonstrates a feasible and straightforward method for mechanically modifying an alkali ceramic to enhance its kinetic abilities to eliminate both CO x gases simultaneously. • Na 2 ZrO 3 , mechanically modified with carbonates, was tested for CO x elimination. • These materials were tested under CO, CO 2 and CO–CO 2 gas streams with and without O 2 . • Li 2 CO 3 addition improved CO 2 capture, regardless of the O 2 presence. • Ni modification provided better kinetic abilities for CO oxidation in the O 2 presence.