Recent research underscores the potential of carbon dioxide methanation as a promising avenue for converting captured CO2 into green natural gas, highlighting the use of biochar-supported nickel catalysts in fostering a circular economy and utilizing sustainable catalysts. This study investigated the methanation performance of biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More, derived from Western red cedar through pyrolysisPyrolysis is a thermochemical process that converts waste biomass into bio-char, bio-oil, and pyro-gas. It offers significant advantages in waste valorization, turning low-value materials into economically valuable resources. Its versatility allows for tailored products based on operational conditions, presenting itself as a cost-effective and efficient More at varying temperatures, and loaded with nickel. The findings reveal that methanation at 500°C with a 10 wt.% nickel loading yields a 59% methane production, comparable to alumina-supported catalysts. However, a decrease in methane yield over time suggests catalyst deactivation, likely due to coking or nickel sintering.

The research also explored different pyrolysis temperatures for biochar production (400, 500, and 600°C) and found that these variations did not significantly impact the catalyst’s performance in CO2 methanation. The optimal conditions, balancing thermodynamic and kinetic limitations, were identified at a methanation temperature of 500°C. This study not only demonstrates the viability of biochar as a catalyst support material but also emphasizes the importance of further investigations into metal-support interactions and metal dispersion to improve catalytic performance and stability in CO2 methanation processes.

This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on the development of environmentally benign and cost-effective catalysts for value-added product creation from captured CO2, marking a significant step towards achieving sustainability targets and enhancing the circular economy through green natural gas production.