Catalytic performance and stability of Ru on Ce-based Aminoclay carriers for Sabatier reaction

In this study, cerium, and lanthanum-cerium synthetic aminoclay analogues with an approximate composition R8Si8M6O16(OH)4, where R represents propylamine functionalities (R = -CH2CH2CH2NHCH2CH2NH2), and M the cerium and lanthanum/ cerium (1:1) metals were successfully prepared (CeAC and La-CeAC). The preparation process is a green, facile, and cost-effective room-temperature sol-gel-based synthetic method using metal chloride and aminotrialkoxysilane precursors. Using these cerium and lanthanum/cerium based synthetic Aminoclay analogues as carriers of Ru nanoparticles (Ru/CeAC, Ru/La-CeAC),  the performance of this new class of catalysts was investigated under CO2 hydrogenation conditions and were found to be highly active and selective towards CH4 production.