Preparation and characterization of Co–Cu–ZrO 2 nanomaterials and their catalytic activity in CO 2 methanation

Abstract In this work, a series of Co–Cu–ZrO 2 nanomaterials with different metal compositions were prepared by a reverse co-precipitation method, and used as catalyst for the production of methane from CO 2 methanation reaction. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by means of X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N 2 -physisorption and hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H 2 -TPR). The binary Co–ZrO 2 catalyst appeared to be predominant in the methanation process. The addition of Cu to the binary Co–ZrO 2 catalyst decreased the reduction temperature of the catalysts and improved the inter-dispersion of mixed metal oxides. The Co–Cu–ZrO 2 catalyst with the ratio of 20:40:40 achieved a superior CH 4 yield of 58% at a reaction temperature and pressure of 300 °C and 3 MPa. Moreover, this catalyst exhibited a great stability as only a 0.6% reduction of initial CH 4 yield was observed after 48 h of a time-on-stream experiment.