Kinetics of the methanation of carbon dioxide over a supported Ni‐La₂O₃ catalyst

The kinetics of the methanation of carbon dioxide was investigated using an alumina supported Ni‐La 2 O 2 catalyst in a differential and integral reactor. In the differential reactor the molar ratio of H 2 to CO 2 was varied from 0.6 to 30. In the integral reactor the rates were measured with up to 90% conversion. Both reactor tests were carried out at temperatures between 513 and 593 K. The experimental results were described by a Langmuir‐Hinshelwood type equation. The kinetics can be explained by assuming equilibrium of dissociative carbon dioxide and hydrogen adsorption, and assuming hydrogenation of surface carbon as the rate determining step.