Process for production of methane-containing gas mixture

1. A process for producing a methane-containing gas mixture comprising the steps of:

(i) passing a first feed gas mixture comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide through a bed of methanation catalyst to react a portion of the hydrogen with at least a portion of the carbon dioxide and form a methane-containing gas mixture containing residual hydrogen,

(ii) adding an oxygen-containing gas to the methane-containing gas mixture containing residual hydrogen to form a second feed gas mixture, and

(iii) passing the second feed gas mixture through a bed of a selective oxidation catalyst at an inlet temperature in the range 150 to 350° C. to selectively react the residual hydrogen and oxygen to form a hydrogen depleted methane-containing gas mixture.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen concentration in the first feed gas mixture is 20% by volume.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the first feed gas mixture is a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the first feed gas mixture is a prepared by mixing a hydrogen-containing gas mixture with a carbon dioxide-containing gas mixture.

5. The process according to claim 4 , wherein the hydrogen-containing gas mixture is a methane-containing gas mixture.

6. The process according to claim 4 , wherein the first feed gas mixture or hydrogen-containing gas mixture and/or the carbon dioxide-containing gas mixture are subjected to a desulphurisation step prior to the methanation step.

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the methanation catalyst is a ruthenium- or nickel-containing methanation catalyst.

8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the methanation catalyst is operated at an inlet temperature in the range 200 to 350° C.

9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the methane-containing gas mixture containing residual hydrogen is adjusted before mixing it with the oxygen containing gas.

10. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the oxidation catalyst is a supported precious metal oxidation catalyst.

11. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the process is performed at a pressure in the range 5 to 80 bar abs.

12. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the methanation catalyst is operated at an inlet temperature in the range 200 to 300° C.

13. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the methanation catalyst is operated at an inlet temperature in the range 230 to 280° C.