CO2 Methanation: Principles and Challenges

The power to gas (P2G) process has the potential to solve long-term and large-scale energy storage problems as well as reduce CO2 emissions. P2G involves CO2 methanation as a pillar of the process for the production of synthetic natural gas. Therefore, this chapter focuses on the principles and fundamental challenges of the CO2 methanation. In CO2 methanation, a catalyst facilitating high CO2 conversion and selectivity to CH4 needs to be utilized due to kinetic limitations. Ni-based catalysts are mostly studied for CO2 methanation because of their high activity and low cost. However, conventional alumina-supported Ni catalysts are easily deactivated as a result of sintering of Ni particles and coke deposition during the exothermic methanation reaction. Hence, a rational design of Ni-based catalysts with tailored properties is required. Subsequently, a brief explanation on hydrotalcite-derived materials and bimetallic catalysts as advanced Ni-based catalysts for CO2 methanation is presented.