Effect of the Cu/ZnO/SBA‐15/kaolinite preparation method on the catalyst structural properties and catalytic performance at CO2 hydrogenation at low pressure

Abstract

AbstractCarbon dioxide catalytic hydrogenation to methanol in the presence of nanocatalysts has been recognized as one of the most effective ways to fix and utilize the emitted CO2. In this study, Cu/ZnO/SBA‐15 catalyst has been synthesized by three different methods: “impregnation‐sol–gel autocombustion” method, impregnation method and direct synthesis method using triblock copolymer Pluronic P123 as a template. Cu/ZnO/SBA‐15 catalysts comprising kaolinite clay have been used in CO2 hydrogenation to methanol for the first time to make the methanol synthesis more cost‐effective. The performance of catalysts upon hydrogenation of CO2 was evaluated in a fixed‐bed tubular micro‐activity reactor at 20 bar with H2 to CO2 molar ratio 3 to 1 and 250°C. Results showed that the highest methanol production, with STY of 36 mg CH3OHh−1gcat−1, could be obtained using the catalyst prepared by “impregnation‐sol–gel autocombustion”. This synthesis method allowed to obtain catalyst with the smallest crystallite size and a good dispersion of the active phase over and into SBA‐15. The CO2 conversion reached 15.9%, which is close to conversion level provided by commercial Cu catalyst.