Integrated electrified reactor system for efficient CO2-to-syngas conversion via e-methanation and e-POM
Abstract
This study presents the development of an electrically driven dual-stage reactor system for efficient syngas production via integrated CO2 methanation and methane partial oxidation. A spiral-shaped metallic catalyst structure enables localized Joule heating by direct current, allowing rapid and energy-efficient temperature control. In the first stage, the Ru/CeO2 catalyst achieved a high CO2 conversion of 78% and CH4 selectivity exceeding approximately 100% under low input power (10 W). In the second stage, the Ni/CeO2 catalyst facilitated CH4 partial oxidation with 91% CH4 conversion and syngas production exhibiting an H2/CO ratio of approximately 2.8. By shortening the catalyst length and increasing flow rates, the system further enhanced heat utilization and CO yield. Notably, while the standalone partial oxidation system suffered from carbon deposition, the integrated configuration demonstrated improved stability due to the presence of residual hydrogen and water from the methanation stage, which effectively suppressed coke formation. To our knowledge, this work is the first to experimentally demonstrate a fully electrified, tandem CO2-to-syngas process combining e-methanation and e-POM in a compact system, offering a promising platform for renewable-energy-compatible chemical conversion.