Synthesis of a Cu/Zn-BTC@LTA derivatived Cu–ZnO@LTA membrane reactor for CO2 hydrogenation

Methanol (MeOH) formation from CO2 hydrogenation has attracted increasing interest for CO2 reduction and utilization. However, CO2 conversion to methanol production is greatly blocked because of the thermodynamical restriction and catalyst inactivation caused by by-product water. In this work, we develop a Cu/Zn-BTC@LTA derivatived Cu–ZnO@LTA catalytic membrane reactor (CMR) for methanol production via CO2 hydrogenation. Through the successive separation of the by-product steam from the reactor by using a water-selective LTA membrane, the thermodynamic restriction is broken to promote CO2 transformation and methanol production. At 533 K and 3.00 MPa, a high CO2 conversion (49.1%) as well as methanol selectivity (90.2%) is obtained in the catalytic membrane reactor, which are much higher than the corresponding CO2 conversion (26.2%) and methanol selectivity (50.6%) obtained in the catalytic fixed bed reactor (CFBR). Further, catalyst deactivation induced by water can be effectively repressed in the catalytic membrane reactor, which is helpful to keep a high stability of the catalyst. [Display omitted] •Cu/Zn-BTC derivatived Cu–ZnO@LTA membrane reactor is fabricated for CO2 hydrogenation.•The thermodynamic limitation can be overcome to boost CO2 conversion and methanol formation by steam separation.•High CO2 conversion of 49.1% as well as methanol selectivity of 90.2% are obtained under 3.00 MPa and 533 K.