Evaluation of surfactants and promoters in the synthesis of Ni/CeO2 catalysts: an operando study

• Grant number: 23/03754-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2023
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Gustavo Possato
• Grantee: Lucas da Silva Ricci
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/05246-4 - In situ and operando studies of heterogeneous catalysts for CO2 conversion, AP.JP

Abstract

This project will study the morphological changes caused in the Ni/CeO2 catalyst by varying the CTAB surfactant concentration and introducing yttrium and zirconium promoters obtained via sol-gel synthesis. The catalyst structural properties will be characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption, transmission, and scanning electron microscopy techniques, evaluating the distribution of the active phase of Nickel (Ni) on the ceria (CeO2) support. The catalysts will be tested in a CO2 methanation reaction, using in situ Raman spectroscopy, controlled temperature, and pressure conditions, operating, during operation, to observe the tendency of the reaction, the intermediate compounds of the reaction, their catalytic sites, and coke formation in catalysis with Ni/CeO2. The data obtained will be used to evaluate the performance of each variation, observing which synthesis route favored carbon dioxide methanation and which morphological changes led to a specific result. The performance of the Ni/CeO2 catalyst will be compared with other nickel catalysts on different metal oxide supports, such as Al2O3 and MgO, prepared, characterized, and tested by the other fellows of the project.