Study on the performance of NiO/Zn(x)Zr(1−x) catalysts for CO(2) hydrogenation

The NiO/Zn(x)Zr(1−x) (x represents the molar mass of Zn) catalyst was prepared by the impregnation method and tested in CO(2) methanation. The activity results show that NiO/Zn(0.3)Zr(0.7) has a higher CO(2) conversion rate and methane selectivity than NiO/ZnO and NiO/ZnO–ZrO(2). Combined with N(2) adsorption–desorption, H(2)-TPR, CO(2)-TPD, H(2)-TPD, XRD, TEM, XPS and FTIR and other characterization methods, the physical and chemical properties of NiO/ZnO–ZrO(2) were studied. The incorporation of ZnO into NiO/ZrO(2) forms a ZnO–ZrO(2) solid solution, and the combination of the solid solution weakens the interaction between NiO and the oxide support, thereby promoting the reduction and dispersion of NiO. The H(2)-TPR experiment results show that, because ZnO–ZrO(2) forms a solid solution, NiO is better dispersed on the surface, resulting in a significant reduction in the reduction temperature of NiO. Using FTIR to conduct CO(2) adsorption and methanation experiments on NiO/Zn(x)Zr(1−x) to determine the adsorbed species and intermediates, the results show that CO(2) methanation follows the formate pathway.