Ni-based catalysts prepared through impregnation of depleted uranium oxides (DU) have successfully been employed as highly efficient, selective, and durable systems for CO2 hydrogenation to substituted natural gas (SNG; CH4) under an autothermal regime. The thermo-physical properties of DU and the unique electronic structure of f-block metal-oxides combined with a nickel active phase, generated an ideal catalytic assembly for turning waste energy back into useful energy for catalysis. In particular, Ni/UOx stood out for the capacity of DU matrix to control the extra heat (hot-spots) generated at its surface by the highly exothermic methanation process. At odds with the benchmark Ni/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst, the double action played by DU as a "thermal mass" and "dopant" for the nickel active phase unveiled the unique performance of Ni/UOx composites as CO2 methanation catalysts. The ability of the weakly radioactive ceramic (UOx) to harvest waste heat for more useful purposes was demonstrated in practice within a rare example of a highly effective and long-term methanation operated under autothermal regime (i. e., without any external heating source). This finding is an unprecedented example that allows a real step-forward in the intensification of "low-temperature" methanation with an effective reduction of energy wastes. At the same time, the proposed catalytic technology can be regarded as an original approach to recycle and bring to a second life a less-severe nuclear by-product (DU), providing a valuable alternative to its more costly long-term storage or controlled disposal.
Not Just Another Methanation Catalyst: Depleted Uranium Meets Nickel for a High‐Performing Process Under Autothermal Regime / Truong‐Phuoc, Lai; Nhut, Jean‐Mario; Sall, Secou; Tuci, Giulia; Rossin, Andrea; Papaefthimiou, Vasiliki; Duong‐Viet, Cuong; Petit, Corinne; Arab, Mehdi; Jourdan, Alex; Vidal, Loic; Giambastiani, Giuliano; Pham‐Huu, Cuong. - In: CHEMSUSCHEM. - ISSN 1864-5631. - STAMPA. - 16:(2023), pp. e202201859.1-e202201859.14. [10.1002/cssc.202201859]
Not Just Another Methanation Catalyst: Depleted Uranium Meets Nickel for a High‐Performing Process Under Autothermal Regime
Giambastiani, Giuliano
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;
2023
Abstract
Ni-based catalysts prepared through impregnation of depleted uranium oxides (DU) have successfully been employed as highly efficient, selective, and durable systems for CO2 hydrogenation to substituted natural gas (SNG; CH4) under an autothermal regime. The thermo-physical properties of DU and the unique electronic structure of f-block metal-oxides combined with a nickel active phase, generated an ideal catalytic assembly for turning waste energy back into useful energy for catalysis. In particular, Ni/UOx stood out for the capacity of DU matrix to control the extra heat (hot-spots) generated at its surface by the highly exothermic methanation process. At odds with the benchmark Ni/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst, the double action played by DU as a "thermal mass" and "dopant" for the nickel active phase unveiled the unique performance of Ni/UOx composites as CO2 methanation catalysts. The ability of the weakly radioactive ceramic (UOx) to harvest waste heat for more useful purposes was demonstrated in practice within a rare example of a highly effective and long-term methanation operated under autothermal regime (i. e., without any external heating source). This finding is an unprecedented example that allows a real step-forward in the intensification of "low-temperature" methanation with an effective reduction of energy wastes. At the same time, the proposed catalytic technology can be regarded as an original approach to recycle and bring to a second life a less-severe nuclear by-product (DU), providing a valuable alternative to its more costly long-term storage or controlled disposal.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
---|---|---|---|
ChemSusChem 2023, 16, e202201859.pdf
accesso aperto
Tipologia:
Pdf editoriale (Version of record)
Licenza:
Open Access
Dimensione
1.83 MB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
1.83 MB | Adobe PDF |
I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.