Paulista, Larissa O.Ferreira, Alexandre F.P.Rodrigues, AlírioMartins, RamiroBoaventura, RuiVilar, Vítor J.P.Silva, Tânia F.C.V.2024-06-172024-06-172024Paulista, Larissa O.; Ferreira, Alexandre F.P.; Rodrigues, Alírio E.; Martins, Ramiro; Boaventura, Rui A.R.; Vilar, Vítor J.P.; Silva, Tânia F.C.V. (2024). Solar thermo-photocatalytic methanation using a bifunctional RuO2:TiO2/Z13X. photocatalyst/adsorbent material for efficient CO2 capture and conversion. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. ISSN 2213-3437. 12:3, p. 1-192213-3437http://hdl.handle.net/10198/29906A novel bifunctional photocatalyst/adsorbent material based on the RuO2:TiO2/zeolite 13X (Z13X) composite was developed to enhance solar-driven methanation through simultaneous carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and thermo-photoconversion. The activity/stability of the hybrid material towards methane (CH4) production was assessed by varying the (i) photocatalyst composition (Ru load and semiconductor type), (ii) bifunctional material composition (photocatalyst-to-zeolite ratio) and impregnation method, (iii) illumination source and power (simulated sunlight and UVA/Visible LEDs), (iv) temperature, and (v) catalyst reuse. Additionally, adsorption equilibrium isotherms were determined to characterize the adsorption ability of the bifunctional material for both CO2 and CH4 gases. The hybrid RuO2(4.0%):TiO2(26.3%)/Z13X material (30 mg), synthesised by the solid-state impregnation method, showed the best results under simulated sunlight (0.75 W) at 150 ºC, achieving a 88% CO2 thermo-photoreduction after 100 min, corresponding to a specific CH4 production of 29.2 mmol gactive_cat−1 h−1 (309 mmol gRu−1 h−1) and apparent quantum yield of 20.7%. In adsorption equilibrium isotherms, the bifunctional material's adsorption was about 2.6-fold higher than the photocatalyst at 150 ºC, suggesting that enhanced methanation performance can be attributed to the synergistic action of CO2 capture and thermo-photoconversion.engBifunctional photocatalyst/adsorbent materialCO2 captureCO2 conversionSolar methane synthesisThermo-photocatalysisjournal article10.1016/j.jece.2024.112418