Green and sustainable methanol production from CO2 over magnetized Fe[sbnd]Cu/core–shell and infiltrate mesoporous silica-aluminosilicates

Abstract

In this present work, green and efficient utilization concepts in the form of the use of an external magnetic field have been applied to improve catalytic performance in CO2 hydrogenation. The 10Fe10Cu catalysts with two types of supports, core–shell and infiltrate mesoporous silica-aluminosilicate materials, were applied under external magnetic fields of different intensities (0, 20.8 mT, 27.7 mT) and orientations (north-to-south (N–S), south-to-north (S–N) directions). It was found that a magnetic field considerably enhanced both CO2 conversion and methanol and DME selectivities. The highest CO2 conversion was obtained over 10Fe10Cu/infiltrate catalyst under the magnetic field conditions of 27.7 mT and 4N–S direction at 260 °C (conversion was 1.5 times greater than that without a magnetic field). Under such conditions and at 240 °C, the highest methanol and DME space time yields were obtained, with results 1.8–1.9 times higher than those of without a magnetic field. These excellent performances could be ascribed to the superior adsorption of CO2 and H2 reactant gas molecules over the surface of magnetized catalysts under external magnetic field. This leads to the advantages of the catalyzed CO2 hydrogenation–decreases in the operating temperature and simultaneous reduction in CO2 emission to the atmosphere. This therefore facilitates a carbon-neutral route of CO2 utilization.