Methanation of the carbon supports of ruthenium ammonia synthesis catalysts: A review

The propensity of carbon support for methanation in a hydrogen-containing medium is a problem for active ruthenium ammonia synthesis catalysts, since this leads to the degradation of the support and the sintering of the active component. This review analyses some key works on approaches to methanation inhibition and their results to show that, on the whole, an algorithm for solving the methanation problem has been found, i.e., the graphitization of carbon supports at high temperatures (up to 2000°C) and the introduction of ruthenium promoters, specifically alkali (Cs, K) and alkali-earth (Ba) oxides, whose role is to modify the electron state of ruthenium and block the surface of a carbon support to prevent it from interacting with active hydrogen. The most efficient catalyst not liable to methanation up to 700°C and a hydrogen pressure of 100 atm has been found. The resulting analysis can be useful in selecting and preparing Me/C catalysts in which Me represents metals of the VIII Group and others.