Uncatalysed and catalysed CO2 reaction using metal catalysts and binary vanadium mixtures supported on activated carbon Original Research Article

The kinetics of the reaction of CO2 with activated carbon without catalyst and impregnated with precursor salts of Mg, Ba, Pb, Cu and Fe and their binary mixtures were investigated. Binary mixtures of those metals with vanadium oxide were also studied. The conversion of CO2 was studied (300°C to 900°C) using a TGA apparatus and a fixed bed reactor. The reactor effluents were analysed using a GC–MS on line. CO was the main product together with some unreactant CO2. The best synergetic effects were observed for samples doped with Ba+V, Mg+V, Fe+V, Cu+V and Ba+Fe oxides. Adsorption of CO2 (20°C to 100°C) increased considerably in the presence of catalysts but binary oxide mixtures had no synergistic effects. In situ XRD was a useful tool for interpreting catalyst behaviour and identifying phases present during reaction conditions. The active phases appear to be metal carbonates and/or metal oxide phases.