New approach turns a greenhouse gas problem into a sustainable energy solution
As the world grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change, finding effective ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions has become more urgent than ever. Traditional methods of CO2 capture, though effective, often face challenges in terms of scale, energy use and expense.
Researchers have now developed an innovative method that could provide a seamless process to capture CO2 and convert it into a useful product: methane. This study aspires to revolutionize studies relevant to Power-to-Methane application as well as deploy smart and affordable ways to tackle big issues through activation of small molecules: CO2.
Khalifa University’s Prof. Kyriaki Polychronopoulou, Director of the Center of Catalysis and Separations (CeCaS), and Dr. Aseel Hussein, postdoctoral fellow of CeCaS, collaborated with Anastasios Tsiotsias, Nikolaos Charisiou, and Maria Goula, University of Western Macedonia, Greece, and Victor Sebastian, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain. In particular, Anastasios Tsiotsias, PhD student at the University of Western Macedonia, was visiting research scholar at Khalifa University in February 2023 working on the decarbonization flagship project under CeCaS. Their approach was to activate dual site catalysis concept where the CO2 is captured first by an adsorbent and then is converted by the bimetallic catalyst. In particular, the process involves a combination of sodium alumina (Na-Al2O3) adsorbents and specially formulated Ni-Ru bimetallic catalysts to turn carbon dioxide emissions into methane.
Their results were published in, a top 1% journal.
The novelty is on the fact that capture and conversion of CO2 happens on different sites that are designed to be at close vicinity. The team’s method combines CO2 capture and methanation into a single, integrated process which operates at a relatively low temperature of 300C. Lower operational temperatures mean enhanced material stability and reduced energy costs. Plus, the method proves effective even in the presence of oxygen and water, common impurities in industrial CO2 streams, demonstrating robustness under real-world conditions.
The role of the bimetallic catalyst is crucial here: Ruthenium enhances the activity of the catalyst at low temperatures, mitigating the adverse effects of oxygen and water. This ensures that the catalyst maintains high activity and stability, essential for continuous industrial operations.
The potential applications are vast. Methane can be used as a synthetic natural gas in industry which can be used to reduce carbon footprint or as a valuable energy carrier. However, for this promising technology to transition from the lab to the industry, further research and optimization are required. Scaling up the process, ensuring long-term stability, and assessing economic viability are the key next steps. Additionally, exploring the development of dual-function materials — those that can simultaneously capture and methanate CO2 — could further streamline the process, making it even more efficient and cost-effective.
Jade Sterling
Science Writer
12 Aug 2024
