A new method of low-temperature methanol synthesis on Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts from CO/CO2/H2

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) Vol. 87; no. 4-5; pp. 443 - 450
• Main Authors: RUIQIN YANG, XIAOCAI YU, YI ZHANG, WENZE LI, TSUBAKI, Noritatsu
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier 01-04-2008
• Subjects: Alcohols: methanol, ethanol, etc; Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Aluminium oxide; Active site; CO/CO2/H2; Butanol; Aqueous solution; Copper; Catalyst activity; Catalyst; Zinc; Low temperature; Methanol; Cu/ZnO/Al2O3
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2007.06.020

A new synthesis method of low-temperature methanol proceeded on Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts from CO/CO2/H2 using 2-butanol as promoters. The Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by co-impregnation of r-Al2O3 with an aqueous solution of copper nitrate and zinc nitrate. The total carbon turnover frequency (TOF), the yield and selectivity of methanol were the highest by using the Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst with copper loading of 5% and the Zn/Cu molar ratio of 1/1, which precursor were not calcined, and reduced at 493K. The activity of the catalysts increased due to the presence of the CuO/ZnO phase in the oxidized form of impregnation Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts. The active sites of the Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst for methanol synthesis are not only metallic Cu but also special sites such as the Cu-Zn site, i.e. metallic Cu and the Cu-Zn site work cooperatively to catalyze the methanol synthesis reaction.