Vapor-phase low-temperature methanol synthesis from CO2-containing syngas via self-catalysis of methanol and Cu/ZnO catalysts prepared by solid-state method

Binary Cu/ZnO catalysts were prepared by solid-state method and tested for vapor-phase low-temperature methanol synthesis from CO2-containing syngas. The influence of H2C2O4/(Cu + Zn) molar ratio on the physicochemical properties and the corresponding catalytic activity was systematically studied. The space time yield (STY) of methanol exhibited a linear relationship with the Cu0 surface area, and increased linearly by enhancing the number of strongly acidic sites or moderately basic sites. The effects of various parameters on the methanol synthesis reaction were also investigated. C4-Red catalyst (H2C2O4/(Cu + Zn) = 4/1) exhibited the maximum turnover frequency (TOF, 11.4 × 10−3 s−1) and STY values (456.3 g/kg h−1), due to the larger Cu0 surface area, greater specific surface area, more strongly acidic sites and moderately basic sites. The strengthened Cu-ZnO interaction, superior CO and H2 adsorption capability as well as higher adsorbed CO and H2 amount also contributed to increasing the catalytic performance of C4-Red catalyst.