Co-Mn-Ru/Al2O3 catalyst for the production of high-calorific synthetic natural gas

Standard heating value for natural gas of South Korea, which imports LNG with high heating value is 10,400 kcal/Nm3, while the heating value of conventional SNG is less than 9,500 kcal/Nm3. Then the heating value of SNG should be enhanced to be used as city gas. In this study, Co-Mn-Ru/Al2O3 was applied in methanation to increase the heating value of the product gas. The role of each component and optimum composition where C2-C4 yield was highest were revealed. Mn enhanced the surface acidity, and promoted carbon-rich environment on the surface, which resulted in the increase of C2-C4 yield. Ru enhanced the reducibility of catalysts, and it resulted in high activity at lower temperature. As a result, optimum composition was 10Co-6Mn-2.5Ru/Al2O3. In addition, to replace Ru component, the reducibility of Co was enhanced by being reduced at higher temperature of 700 °C, and 20Co-Mn/Al2O3 catalysts achieved similar activity results to 10Co-6Mn-2.5Ru/Al2O3 without Ru.