A Study on the Order of Calcination and Liquid Reduction over Cu-Based Catalyst for Synthesis of Methanol from CO2/H2

Cu/Zn/Al/Zr catalysts were prepared by liquid reduction method and tested for the synthesis of methanol by CO 2 hydrogenation. With the purpose of relieving the aggregation of reduced Cu species, the order of calcination and liquid reduction process was modified. Catalysts with different thermal treatments were characterized by XRD, N 2 physisorption, TEM, N 2 O chemisorption, TG–MS, XPS, TPR, CO 2 -TPD techniques. When liquid reduction was performed after calcination procedure, metallic Cu specific area and dispersion increased and the interaction among components was strengthened. The modified catalyst displays a slight superiority in CO 2 conversion and methanol selectivity. Graphical Abstract