Co-Production of Methanol and Methyl Formate via Catalytic Hydrogenation of CO2 over Promoted Cu/ZnO Catalyst Supported on Al2O3 and SBA-15

Cu/ZnO catalysts promoted with Mn, Nb and Zr, in a 1:1:1 ration, and supported on Al2O3 (CZMNZA) and SBA-15 (CZMNZS) were synthesized using an impregnation method. The catalytic performance of methanol synthesis from CO2 hydrogenation was investigated in a fixed-bed reactor at 250 °C, 22.5 bar, GHSV 10,800 mL/g·h and H2/CO2 ratio of 3. The CZMNZA catalyst resulted in higher CO2 conversion and MeOH selectivity of 7.22% and 32.10%, respectively, despite having a lower BET surface area and pore volume compared to CZMNZS. Methyl formate is the major product obtained over both types of catalysts. The CZMNZA is a promising catalyst for co-producing methanol and methyl formate via the CO2 hydrogenation reaction.