Synthesis of lanthanide series (La, Ce, Pr, Eu & Gd) promoted Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalysts for methanation of CO2 at low temperature under atmospheric pressure

A series of Ni/γ-Al2O3 and 5%X-12%Ni/γ-Al2O3 (X = La, Ce, Pr, Eu & Gd) catalysts was synthesized by using aqueous incipient impregnation method for methanation of carbon dioxide. 5%Pr-12%Ni/γ-Al2O3 showed the highest CO2 conversion of 98.2% with 100% CH4 selectivity at 300 °C for investigated reaction conditions. The catalyst activity was also tested for 48 h which showed the stability of synthesized catalyst for CO2 conversion and CH4 selectivity. The TEM, BET and XRD analysis demonstrated the high metal dispersion, no remarkable effect on textural properties of 5%Pr-12%Ni/γ-Al2O3 as compared to 12%Ni/γ-Al2O3 and phases of alumina, nickel and lanthanide series promoters for γ-Al2O3 support, 12%Ni/γ-Al2O3 and 5%X-12%Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalysts.