Catalyst synthesis by continuous coprecipitation under micro-fluidic conditions: Application to the preparation of catalysts for methanol synthesis from CO2/H2

Abstract

A new method of synthesis based on micro-fluidic continuous coprecipitation has been used to prepare CuO-ZnO-ZrO2 catalyst. The catalytic behavior was then investigated for CO2 hydrogenation into methanol and compared with a CuO-ZnO-ZrO2 catalyst prepared by classical coprecipitation and with the same amount of Cu0 (30%). The novel synthesis method allows a better repeatability and homogeneity of the catalyst which leads to the best methanol productivity of 486gMeOHkgcata−1h−1 at 280°C under 50bar and a GHSV of 10,000h−1.