Carbon-encapsulated Ni catalysts are synthesized by an electrical explosion of wires (EEW) method and applied for CO2 methanation. We find that the presence of carbon shell on Ni nanoparticles as catalyst can positively affect CO2 methanation reaction. Ni@5C that is produced under 5% CH4 partial pressure in Ar gas has highest conversions of 68 % at 350 oC and 70% at 400 oC, which are 73 and 75% of the thermodynamic equilibrium conversion, respectively. The catalyst of Ni@10C with thicker carbon layer shows much reduced activity. The EEW-produced Ni catalysts with low specific surface area outperform Ni catalysts with high surface area synthesized by solution-based precipitation methods. Our finding in this study shows the possibility of utilizing carbon-encapsulated metal catalysts for heterogeneous catalysis reaction including CO2 methanation. Furthermore, EEW, which is a highly promising method for massive production of metal nanoparticles, can be applied for various catalysis system, requiring scaled-up synthesis of catalysts.

The catalytic activity of Ni-0.2%YSZ (Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia) with different promoters was evaluated for CO2 methanation. The catalysts were weighed for mixing and they were dried at 110 for molding into disks. The concentration of CO2 and CH4 for conducting of CO2 methanation were analyzed by gas chromatography and the physical characteristics of the disk-type catalyst formed were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer. The addition of CeO2 as a promoter for Ni-0.2%YSZ (denoted as Ni-5%Ce-0.2%YSZ) resulted in the highest CO2 methanation. It also showed catalytic activity at a low temperature(200°C). Following this, ZrO2, SiO2, Al2O3 and TiO2 were added to Ni-5%Ce-0.2%YSZ to compare the CO2 methanation, and the highest efficiency was found for. Ni-1%Ti-5%Ce -0.2%YSZ Then, the concentration of Ti was increased to 10% and the catalytic activity was estimated using seven different types of commercial TiO2. In conclusion, ST-01 TiO2 showed the highest efficiency for CO2 methanation.

유기성폐기물(음식물, 하수슬러지 등)은 2005년부터 육상 직매립이 금지되었고, 2006년에 발효된 런던협약에 따라 2013년 1월부터 해양투기 또한 금지되어 폐기물의 처리 및 재활용이 시급한 실정이다. 따라서, 이러한 유기성 폐기물의 효과적인 자원화 방법 중 하나인 혐기성소화가 각광받고 있는 실정이며, 혐기성소화조에서 발생되는 바이가스는 일반적으로 CH4 50~90%, CO2 10~50%, 소량의 H2S 및 NH4로 알려져 있다. 이러한 바이오가스의 정제방법으로는 탄소흡착법, 막분리법 등이 있으나 높은 운전비용과 공정구성의 어려움, 2차 폐기물 발생 등 많은 문제를 일으키고, CO2의 재활용이 아닌 폐기시키고 있어 자원순환적인 측면에서 바람직하지 못하다. CH4의 전환방법중 하나인 CO2 methanation반응은 1M의 CO2와 4M의 H2가 반응하여 1M의 CH4와 2M의 H2O가 생성되는 반응이다. CO2는 열역학적으로 매우 안정된 물질로, 반응에 필요한 에너지를 공급하기 위해서는 수소 등과 같은 높은 에너지의 환원제를 같이 반응에 참여시켜 주어야 한다. 그러나 열역학적 평형으로 인해 전환이 제한되는 경우가 많아, 적절한 반응속도와 선택도를 달성하기 위해 촉매가 요구되며, CO2 methanation 반응에 사용되는 촉매는 주로 Ni, Fe, Al 등 금속계 촉매가 주를 이루고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 바이오가스의 정제효율을 높이기 위하여 CO2 methanation 촉매를 다양한 조건에 따라 제조하였으며 각각의 촉매별 CO2 전환율을 평가하였다.