Promoted Ru/Al2O3 catalysts with improved low-temperature activity for CO2 methanation reaction

Catalytic thermal hydrogenation of CO₂ to CH₄ is one of the promising decarbonization technologies, and Ru is considered to be the most active metal for low-temperature CO₂ methanation. In this work, a series of metal-promoted Ru-based catalysts were prepared by the impregnation–precipitation method. The catalyst composition, reduction temperature, reaction gas concentration, and reaction conditions were optimized. The reaction mechanism was investigated through CO-DRIFTS experiments. It was found that the addition of Pt could promote the adsorption of CO on the surface of ruthenium-based catalysts, which was beneficial to the methanation reaction. In addition, in situ DRIFTS experiments observed surface species of catalysts during the reaction, and it was concluded that bicarbonate was the intermediate species of the reaction. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.