Depleted uranium oxide supported nickel catalyst for autothermal CO2 methanation in non-adiabatic reactor under induction heating

Undoped nickel-based catalysts supported on depleted uranium oxide allow one to carry out CO₂ methanation process under extremely low reaction temperature under atmospheric pressure and powered by a contactless induction heating. By adjusting the reaction conditions, the catalyst is able to perform CO₂ methanation reaction under autothermal process operated inside a non-adiabatic reactor, without any external energy supply. Such autothermal process is possible thanks to the high apparent density of the UO_x which allows one to confine the reaction heat in a small catalyst volume in order to confine the exothermicity of the reaction inside the catalyst and to operate the reaction at equilibrium heat in-heat out. Such autothermal operation mode allows one to significantly reduce the complexity of the process compared to that operated using adiabatic reactor, where complete insulation is required to prevent heat disequilibrium, in order to reduce as much as possible, the heat exchange with the external medium. The catalyst displays an extremely high stability as a function of time on stream as no apparent deactivation. It is expected that such new catalyst with unprecedented catalytic performance could open new era in the field of heterogeneous catalysis where traditional supports show their limitations to operate catalytic processes under severe reaction conditions.