Combinatorial Development of Novel Pd Based Mixed Oxide Catalysts for the CO Hydrogenation to Methanol

In a combinatorial study numerous palladium containing mixed oxides were synthesized by a sol–gel approach and screened for their catalytic activity toward methanol synthesis from synthesis gas. Several materials exhibited higher yields than comparable supported catalysts. Titanium based materials showed to be the most promising catalytic materials, which exhibited good selectivities for temperatures below 265 °C. The materials investigated are characterized by high specific surface areas and high pore volumes which seem to have a beneficial effect on the reactivity.