From Carbon Emissions to Synthetic Methane: Sustainable Design of Nickel-based Catalysts for CO2 Methanation – Part 2

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  • Author
    Mariam Mokalled
  • Advisor
    Dr. Mohammad Ahmad
  • Level
    Intermediate
  • Study time
    ~ 20 minutes
  • Videos
    4
  • Contact

    mkm18@mail.aub.edu
    ma258@aub.edu.lb

Module Description

Building on Part 1, this part focuses on the practical development and evaluation of catalysts for CO2 methanation. The module presents the preparation of nickel supported on ceria-zirconia mixed oxides using solution combustion synthesis and examines how composition and some reaction conditions influence the activity of the catalysts.

Key characterization techniques, including BET surface analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis, are introduced to relate morphology, surface properties, and thermal stability to catalytic behavior.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • Describe the preparation of Ni/Ce-Zr catalysts using solution combustion synthesis.
  • Interpret BET, XRD, SEM, and TGA data to assess catalyst properties.
  • Evaluate the effect of Ni loading, Ce:Zr ratio and GHSV on methanation performance.
  • Analyze catalyst activity, selectivity, and stability under operating conditions.
created by

Mariam Mokalled

Researcher with a BS in Chemistry and an MS in Chemical Engineering. Working in materials synthesis & characterization, carbon capture and utilization, sustainability, catalysis, MOFs, Metal Oxides, mechanochemistry, and clean energy.
main advisor

Dr. Mohammad Ahmad

Dr. Mohammad Ahmad is a tenured professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Energy at The American University of Beirut. He has a successful research career, having secured funding from government research councils and industry during his time at Queen's University Belfast and the American University of Beirut. His total research income amounts to approximately 2 million US dollars. Dr. Ahmad specializes in solid waste management, biofuel production from waste, heterogeneous catalysis, and simulation and modeling. He has supervised more than 35 Ph.D. students and over 100 MSc research projects, and has published over 110 articles in high-impact journals, many of which have received numerous citations. His primary area of research focuses on the production of renewable energy as biofuels from biomass, through advancements in catalysis and the use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), CO2 methanation, and hydrogen production.  His citations according to Scopus (March 2026, 8730, and h-index of 46).