A Study on the Order of Calcination and Liquid Reduction over Cu-Based Catalyst for Synthesis of Methanol from CO2/H2

Abstract

Cu/Zn/Al/Zr catalysts were prepared by liquid reduction method and tested for the synthesis of methanol by CO2 hydrogenation. With the purpose of relieving the aggregation of reduced Cu species, the order of calcination and liquid reduction process was modified. Catalysts with different thermal treatments were characterized by XRD, N2 physisorption, TEM, N2O chemisorption, TG–MS, XPS, TPR, CO2-TPD techniques. When liquid reduction was performed after calcination procedure, metallic Cu specific area and dispersion increased and the interaction among components was strengthened. The modified catalyst displays a slight superiority in CO2 conversion and methanol selectivity.